My real concern with the Kreider deal is now the Rangers are forced to make moves, likely from the depth that's making them formidable right now, and they have to do it while taking back less money than they send out. If you're talking Strome, Buch, and Skjei, how do you replace two top-six forwards who account for over 100 points AND a top-4 LHD while bringing back less money??
Either the Rangers are going all-in on hoping kids take huge steps forward, or we're going to start seeing some of that league-best prospect pool start heading out the door very quickly.
If you crunch numbers, they can make it work next year if they buy-out Staal, let Fast walk, and trade one of Strome or Buch. Buying out Hank might even let them bring Strome/Buch back for a year or two. The RW depth is suspect if we're losing Fast and Buch, but the C depth has been a question mark for years.
Does it make them better? No. Like you said, they lose the majority of the depth unless they're getting it through trade or FA, or unless someone really steps up in Hartford. I'm also not at all convinced by Howden.
Lundqvist and Smith walk and $9m in dead cap space from buyouts frees up for 2021-2022. If Lundkvist or Miller are ready or Lias wants to take another run at it, then there might be options. But, again...losing that depth.
Lots of ifs here.