The New Lineup Thread
The goaltenders are easy: Lehner and Johnson. They are written in ink, unless someone gets hurt and then Ullmark is likely recalled.
Defense: do we carry 7 or 8 and what are the pairings? The top 6 are likely already set with McCabe, Risto, Bogo, Beaulieu, Antipin and Scandella. I like the following pairings
McCabe Risto
Scandella Antipin
Beaulieu Bogosian
Bogosian Tennyson
Gorges and Falk have NHL deals and are the most experienced of the remaining contenders, but are more phyiscal players and both are LD, which IMHO works against them. Tennyson and Fedun are R shots D and Fedun can move the puck. Guhle is the hot prospects, but needs pro experience and with this roster no reason to rush him. Goloubef is a RD vet on a PTO, but i'm not sure what he adds over Tennyson. Lastly Nelson is a RD puck mover with a good pedigree in college and should do well in Housley's system. Jbot likely wants him to play, so like Guhle, he;ll likely start in Roch.
Last two slots go to Gorges and Tennyson? (Tennyson and Falk are each getting paid 650K for this season, but Tennyson is on a 2 yr deal). I'd prefer to dump Gorges and keep Falk.
Forwards: 9 locks - Sam, Jack, KO, ROR, Pommers, Larsson, Girgensons, Pouliot, Kane, with 3 slots up for grabs.
Pouliot ROR KO
Girgensons Jack Pominville
Kane Reinhart Bailey?
Moulson Larsson Fasching?
ERod?
Those two RW slots are really interesting with Griffith, Bailey, Baptiste, EROD, and Fasching all fighting for them. My instinct says Bailey and Fasching. Big heavy players with scoring skills. Bailey adds speed. Griffith reminds me of AAAA Chris Taylor. ERod is a swift utility forward. Delo loses the 13th forward slot to ERod.