Act like the Buffalo Sabres at the 2015 NHL Draft and settle for Jack Eichel
The Sabres tanked hard in an attempt to land the No. 1 overall pick to land Connor McDavid. The odds weren't in their favor, and they settled on picking Jack Eichel at No. 2 overall. Things didn't go all that well in Buffalo, and Eichel now plays for the Vegas Golden Knights where he was a key contributor during their Stanley Cup victory.
If Eichel makes it to July 1, 2026, the Rangers will pursue him with great enthusiasm. They tried to trade for him previously, and they really want him on their team. It just so happens that they hired his former college coach David Quinn to be an assistant, and this comes at a time where Quinn previously was the head coach... also at a time when the Blueshirts tried to trade for him.
This may be just a funny coincidence, and I could be just trying to connect the dots to advance my own narrative. However, it is clear the Rangers want to add an elite center. They've wanted Eichel before, and it is clear the team could be doing what it takes so they have the funds to land Eichel in free agency just over a year from now.
Replace Artemi Panarin with Kirill Kaprizov
This is listed third because it is likely a longshot, even longer than the prior two names. The Minnesota Wild have indicated that they want to keep Kirill Kaprizov, and there's no reason to think that he is unhappy with the team and would want to leave. However, in the event that he doesn't sign a deal and intends to test the open market, there's every reason to believe he could want to reunite with his friend Igor Shesterkin.
big @nyknicks guys pic.twitter.com/3c04uTmplo
— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 11, 2023
This is a tweet from the New York Jets showcasing some of their players at Madison Square Garden during a New York Knicks playoff game back in 2023. Also in this picture, look top left is Kaprizov, Shesterkin, and Adam Fox. With Panarin's deal expiring next June and him turning 34 in October, would you be surprised if the Rangers wanted to replace him with a similarly dynamic player who would be five years younger at age 29?
"Kirill the Thrill" has tallied 386 points in 319 games during his first five NHL seasons (1.21 points per game). Panarin tallied 415 points in 391 games during his first five seasons (1.06 points per game), and has continued to produce at an elite level. Given the similarity in how they play the game, and what the Rangers are trying to accomplish, you have to imagine someone in the Rangers front office has contingency plan should Kaprizov become available.