To be fair, if we ended up with a top pick next year (let's say we get a top three pick), sold off Zucc and some other assets, and then had a couple or so first round picks (let's say that Tampa wins the Cup and we get a third first rounder), would you be against trying to win after that? You see if you can squeeze the last bit of life out of Hank in that manner, you have a young core of six first rounders the last two years, you have the guys you traded for already . . . Would seem to me to be a good time to swing.
If I were to venture a guess, that's the Rangers flight plan. They've stockpiled A LOT of young talent.
You add in the possibility 1-3 additional first round picks, including a high first round pick, and maybe a couple of prospects via trades or signings, and I think they're ready to roll again. If there are quality free agents out there, or even trades to be made, I believe the Rangers will be in on them.
My own concerns about EK's game over the next 5 years aside for a moment, it does change the conversation considerably when you're talking about signing guys rather than trading assets for them. Ideally, with the former, you're adding said player(s) to what you already have in place or emerging. That gives you both talent and depth, and not at the cost of either one.
There will always be people who want to go for it now are willing to assume the risk. There will always be others who lean to a more cautious approach and would be averse to big signings under many circumstances.
I don't think most people on here would be averse to signings next summer.
As I've repeatedly said, it's all about the timing, the context and the details. But the timing has to be there before anything else. I don't believe now is the ideal time, unless there's a no-brainer of a deal out there to be made. However, we can be in a very different place in a shade under a year from now.
