When it comes to Greentree I look at his concerns and I see things that can be worked out, and I look at his strengths and see so much more than that. Quick pro outlook: best case scenario he’s a crafty, powerful top-six winger who racks up points by being a phenomenal facilitator for teammates and using his excellent shot to score his own goals too. Worst case scenario (reasonably, not spinning scary stories) he’s a top nine threat who brings excellent defensive awareness and still adds scoring.

First thing you should know about Greentree? He’s an excellent puck-carrier and playmaker, creative without getting too flashy, able to create space for himself and easily find teammates. He’s so intelligent, easily finding ways to navigate around opponents, finding or creating options on the breakout without breaking a sweat. And don’t let the playmaking fool you. Greentree is also a threat as a scorer, largely because of his puck skills, finding lanes for his quick wrist shot—and when he can’t find them he makes them. 

His defensive game is also high-end; he backchecks like it’s his sole focus. Nothing short of full buy-in from Greentree defensively. He’s got strength and a high-end work ethic that sees him cutting down lanes, using his stick skills to break up opportunities and take back pucks. 

Greentree’s strengths, along with the fact that he is 20 and can make the jump to the NHL sooner than, say, a first-round pick that hasn’t been selected yet, made him the best option for the Rangers as far as Kings prospects go. And with reports that Panarin would literally only go to the Kings, their hands were tied. It’s making the best of a bad situation 101—you can’t come out on top, you can only mitigate the fallout, and given their options I don’t hate what the Rangers did here in these specific circumstances. (Looking at the bigger picture, I feel a bit differently. But that’s not what we’re here for.)