I agree, Georgiev or Shesterkin should be the main targets. Trade for one of them and trade/waive Howard.
I think it would take a lot to get Shesterkin.
Yea, I think Shesterkin is probably untouchable unless the Wings are offering up a 1st or a high end prospect. He's been the speculated heir apparent to Lundqvist for a few years now, while Georgiev has been more of a pleasant surprise and would likely come a good bit cheaper.
I think some of it will depend on what the Rangers decide to do going forward... Shesterkin has already said he's either in the NHL next season or he goes home, Lundqvist will be in the final year of his contract and Georgiev will be an RFA looking for a bridge deal. That said, they also won't have any pressure going into the expansion draft since they'll only need to protect Georgiev as Shesterkin is exempt and Lundqvist will be a UFA and possibly heading into retirement.
If Yzerman went after Georgiev, he could use cap space to drive cost down like the Avs did when they picked up Grubauer. The Avs sent 47OA for Grubauer and the last year of Orpik's contract, who they then bought out. The Rangers will have two Dmen, Marc Staal and Brendan Smith, in Orpik's shoes with one overpaid year remaining and I'm sure the Rangers could use the cap space, especially if Lundqvist is still in the picture.
A trade that brings in Georgiev and one of Staal or Smith at the right price would check a couple of boxes for the Wings. They'd get a cost controlled young NHL-capable goaltender with some upside that can tandem with Bernier for a year and then be protected in the Expansion Draft, and they'd get a one year stopgap veteran on D for when they're likely to lose Daley, Ericsson and Green either at the coming deadline or as UFA's this summer.
In comparison to the Grubauer deal, I'm not sure what the return to the Rangers should be, but I'd rather the Wings deal off some of their glut on the wing than 2nd/3rd round pick.
I am fine with a short term solution. Actually I think that is what we need.
I do not think trading for a goalie is a good idea. Why trade assets when you can get it for free?
As someone mentioned above, the only way trading for a goalie makes sense is it's for someone that can be around for a bit and has some upside to be useful if/when the team is finally competitive. As far as assets are concerned, the Wings have a logjam up front, particularly at wing. If they could package some of that up to get a decent young goalie that's closer to making an impact I don't think it would be so bad as opposed to getting draft picks that are likely far from making any sort of impact.
