The Blueshirts did some buying and some selling, but avoided costly rentals and are in better long-term position for it.

And some are like this year, when general manager Chris Drury made sure to get a return on impending free agents Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith — none of whom were going to re-up — while at the same time fortifying the roster for a run at a playoff spot and leaving the heavy lifting for the summer.