Brooks' speculation piece from yesterday is interesting. I wonder how much of it is Gorton using Brooksie as a puppet to speak through the media to say "We're open for business on Hayes and Zuccarello, what are your offers?" to every other GM in the league.
It takes two to tango. A lot of teams that though they would be better this year (Flyers, Panthers, Stars, Blues, Kings, Vegas) are off to slow starts and are waiting a few more weeks to really see what their team is this year. American Thanksgiving has been used as a benchmark to predicate the rest of the season's success. If you're in or out of the playoffs by American Thanksgiving, you have a 75% chance of remaining there. Who is going to emerge from the pack and try to make another push?
The Rangers are realistic about who they are this year. Gorton should be open for business on all of the UFA's. I bet he's listening on just about everyone that doesn't have a boat anchor attached to them. Gorton is in a unique situation to set the market this year rather than wait until two weeks before the deadline before making moves. There will be players that are waived that can fill in as warm bodies if a Hayes or Zuccarello gets dealt for a nice offer.