Interesting but next years #1 is supposed to be much better, the kid they have been talking about for two years now, that Alex kid.
That is the pick to package Horvat for, the pick and prospect (s), Horvat even at 24 is starting to age out of the new NHL.By the time this team has enough good players he will be much older. So get more for a proven talent right now, maybe two firsts the 2020 and 2021. There is no deal that cannot be done.
The cap should not be an issue for another 6 years, both Boeser and Pettersson are RFA's and while good, the long term big money deals should be around the age of 25/26. Ni ether is McDavid or Mathews. So use the capspace available to buy a pick, the Rangers are a team that sells out and they need winners now not projects. Make an offer for the #2 and take Kakko, Canucks 1rst, Tanev, retain 1/2, Sutter retain 1/2 and Gadovitch/Juolevi to get good faster now and have enough players in the right age levels over paying is a requirement. If all those were traded what would be the difference, most aren't playing a season a year or at all. To have a player for Pettersson to play with free's up Boeser to go back with Horvat then the team only needs one more star forward in the 20 year old age group.
Make the phone call, but for the #2 pick and try to keep the team's #1, offer all but Virtanen, Horvat, Boeser, Pettersson, Hughes (this year) and Tryamkin.