So no interest in adding some depth at F like Vesey or Namestnikov (both signed though next year) or D like McQuaid(Ufa)? What of Zibanejad + Zuccarello for the previously requested package (Ottawa 1st + Timmins) + a 2nd in 19/20 that Colorado can choose at the draft? Your team could be a serious contender adding Zib and Zucc to your F core. Rangers will be happy to take back any salary through next season to make it work
Problem is that we can't really trade that pick until after the lottery to make sure it doesn't end up top 4 or 5. So including any rentals in a Zibby trade wouldn't work timing-wise.
Plus we'd actually be pretty damn deep with a Zibby being added for futures. Zibby, Soderberg & Kamenev would be a strong center lineup behind the top line and we'd have a good set of wingers for them with Jost, Kaut, Compher, Kerfoot, Calvert, Nieto, Bourque & AJ Greer...assuming that we just brought all of those guys back without pursuing Panarin/Stone or even the Silfverberg tier of FA wingers; after letting Wilson & Andrighetto walk.
Jost has been really good on the wing. Compher is killing it this year & like Jost is a good two-way winger. Kerfoot is following a 43 point rookie season by pacing for 59. Kaut has been producing like Zadina & Necas in the AHL in his draft+1 year and has really been on a tear since getting acclimated; scoring a lot of clutch goals like Mikko did during his AHL tenure. All three of Calvert, Nieto & Bourque are good forecheckers / PKers to round out the bottom 6. Greer is looking like he's going to earn a chance to win the LW spot next to Kamenev sooner or later with the way he's playing in the AHL.
Plus we'd have Bowers (along with Meloche) in the AHL, being prepared to battle Kamenev to be Soda's eventual replacement, as the top call-up option(s):
Landy - MacK - Rantanen
Jost - Zibanejad - Kerfoot
Calvert - Soderberg - Kaut
Greer - Kamenev - Comph
( Nieto / Bourque )
Girard - Johnson
Zadorov - Barrie
Ian Cole - Makar
( Barberio )
( Varlamov?)
Grubauer
Francouz