I feel like he was following a plan until this summer. Then it feels like he turned a switch and did whatever it took to make a playoff roster... at the expense of future success.
Between the deadweight and the lag until our d prospects are ready, I don't see them being ready for a few seasons. Now we are potentially pushing caps hit into the future for 4 seasons. Buyouts, rookie bonuses, bridge deals. We could have used our cap space as a asset while we waited for our prospects to get ready. We should have locked up our RFAs to long term deals instead of waiting. We should have ppried away quality players from strapped teams. We should have let our bad deals expire in 2 seasons.
This won't be popular but I don't see long term thinking when we add an $11.6m wing to this wing depth. Not with our center issues.
I'll be honest, it was nice having cap space for 18 months. People can think we will have more of it in 2 years but I'm skeptical. ADA and Buch, if he isn't moved now, will be owed big deals. That's with new deals for Georgiev, Chytil and Andersson. On the eve of Kakko and Kravtsov. I can't honestly believe they won't spend ever available cent between now and then . They showed restraint for 2 summers out of every single summer in club history. Gorton gets the benefit of the doubt on many aspects for sure but I can't view him as the one lone ranger GM that doesn't spend to the limit.
I have my reasons to be skeptical about the path. I'm not just being negative because I'm different and edgy. I hope to be wrong and I'll admit when I am when it plays out differently as usual.
There's nothing wrong with having this view, it's not sunshine and roses but who cares it's not doom and gloom either. I think you're correct I loved the way the rebuild was going and the patience and restraint they were showing with all the moves prior to the 7/1/19. I suppose phase 1 was what we had from the Letter-7/1 and I would have liked a better transition then just a full steam ahead approach.
IMO, Kakko accelerated the organization's thought process. I am not sure about the entire Panarin signing in relationship to how it jives with the rebuild. He's an elite player sure but there are timeline aspects that just don't add/line up. I think things would have looked immeasurably better had Gorton been able to swing something to get Zegras (or whichever center they were high on). Now that's the last position where the pipeline is rather lean. Unfortunately, it's a pretty damn important position.
Hopefully the depth in other area's allows Gorton to pick up a decent prospect or 2 at center. Obviously, it would be great if he could pick up a guy like they did with Mika, a prospect that just needs a different environment or is poised for a breakout if given the chance, they're out there you just have to find them.
Gorton would have been foolish not to take that Trouba deal, that was a no brainer. On paper that was pretty much a steal of a trade solidifying arguably the most difficult position to fill in hockey. Is the Panarin signing different than other free agent signings in the past? I know that the contract won't be easy to move if Gorton needs to and it's a big cap hit but he took less to come here so it's not like he's a hired gun like the past players, he wanted NY and he's a true elite player. I will say it as well, I would have rather the Rangers passed on that contract at this point but understand why many wanted him and why he was ultimately signed.
Anyway, all we can do is watch and see if the contradicting moves can work. Gorton has been pretty damn good since he started running things, he's made many more good decisions versus bad so I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
