My best guess is Trocheck gets traded. Not saying it's what I want, it's what I expect will happen. There was too much smoke he was getting dealt at the trade DL, Drury got his NT list, had many conversations, I have a feeling once that bridge is crossed, you don't go back. As a vet with a family, I am confident Trocheck doesn't want to deal with that again in season, so I think he'll get moved before the draft.
The Rangers have a ton of cap space, which is nice, but there is no one to spend it on. The cap went up so much that all the top potential UFA's re-signed, and the Rangers aren't alone in having a lot of cap space. My best guess is we'll see Drury active in the trade market, that's how he'll retool the team. Having a top 5 pick helps also, and maybe it will be a top 2 or 3 pick with any luck, and having another late 1st rounder isn't bad.
Whatever they do, they NEED to play some kid's next season. Give the guys who played reasonably well down the stretch a chance to play next season.
Perreault, Laba, Kartye, Chmelar, Fortescue, and Sykora all should be given every opportunity to earn regular roles next season. Garand MUST be the backup to Igor. I also think Robertson earned a shot to be the 3rd pair LD.
In addition to Trocheck, who I think will be gone, what is the plan with Schneider. He is an RFA with arbitration rights, and if you plan to re-sign him, I don't think burying him on the 3rd pair makes sense, but how do you balance Schneider and Borgen at RD after Fox. Interesting question for Drury to solve, or maybe he moves Schneider at the draft, and it solves itself.
I also disagree with many on Fox, he is super important to this team, that became even more clear when he was out. The teams record without him was much worse than when he played, he was a + player on a team that had very few, he averaged a point per game, his metrics were all very good, he played very well down the stretch and became a more dangerous player as he shot the puck way more (which I have said for years is a must for him to improve), he formed a very good top pair with Gavrikov (their numbers together were impressive), and Gavrikov was not as good when Fox was out (which shows Fox's value even more). To me, no shot I move Fox unless the return is HUGE, anything less than a GS return, and I keep Fox. I expect him to be here next season, forming a very good top pair with Gavrikov.
Drury will be on the clock soon; we'll see if he can exceed my VERY VERY low expectations.
