The first thing I would do if I am Chevy is to trade Trouba for Hamonic, because I think with Buff and Myers we have two RHD who can carry the offense, and are sufficiently adequate defensively, but we need a true shut down d-man, someone who can play against the league's best, and who is a penalty killer, before anything else. I don't think Trouba will ever attain that watermark. Hamonic shut down Crosby in the playoffs, and that is not easy to do. Bring our boy home, for the rest of his career, which will conceivably be more than the 4 years we will retain Trouba.
My defense is mobile.
Enstrom-Hamonic
Chiarot-Buff
Morrissey-Myers
Postma as a reserve (in year 6, we finally have more Canadians than others on our D, and more than 50% are W graduates, which bodes well methinks)
Also the two younger players are protected somewhat by their d partners. If we want to play 4 d, I like Myers and Buff together, more than Trouba and Buff, as they have contributed on game tying goal with the goalie pulled, and one beauty shorty 3 on 5, to my memory.
I would trade Stuart for a draft pick, or a LHD prospect for the Moose.
Offensively we need a finisher, but we will likely draft Matthew Tkachuk, who will help us down the road, but not immediately, I fathom.
Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler is an excellent top line.
Our second line is a little more problematic.
I like Stafford as a 2nd liner, over Perrault, given the size of the players he will play with. I would like to see Little continue as a 2nd line centre, with either Petan, or Connor on his left wing. But neither are sure bets. Having a vet compete in camp would be prudent. I am hoping Petan shows more in his second year.
I would demote Perrault to the 3rd line, with Burmistrov, and have Armia as the winger. Burmi and Armia could form a top PK unit, with Lowry and Thorburn as well, getting mileage out of our bottom liners, to use our top liners more effectively. Perrault on the point with Buff on the PP, with our top line, gives us a our best PP, in my opinion, and the 2nd line, with Myers and Hamonic would form a good secondary PP.
I like Lowry and Thorburn together, they can really battle, and tenderize opposing d. I thoroughly dislike watching Halischuk on their line, he just doesn't have NHL skill. I think Brendan Lemieux brings alot more to the table. He would give that 4th line the ability to finish occasionally, put some extra points on the board. And lacking top talent, we could at least become a team that is capable of rolling 4 lines, at all times.
Peluso gives us that extra toughness, in a tough division. I would like to see Lipon get the 23rd roster spot, maybe bring back Tlusty to compete with him.
We have a solid top line then with the Moose, with Connor (or Petan), with De Leo and Kosmachuk.
I would send Copp to the minors, he just needs more development in my opinion. He has good defensive awareness, but needs more maturity, and offensive flair, which he can get with some more ice time. Lowry is a better player, and Burmi can shadow with the best of them. Having Perrault take some his draws would help him in his main weakness. If Ducky replaces Vincent behind the bench, the results will be tangible. I also see Marko Dano as someone who should probably start next year in the minors, and work his way up. Maybe Tanev starts the season on the 2nd line of the Moose with these two. Or Lemieux, if he is not ready.
I'd bring Haliscuk back on a two-way, and bring in Jordin Tootoo, who would be a fan favorite on the Moose, as he and Halischuk did have some good chemistry in Nashville. With Ryan Olsen as their centre they could form a formidable 3rd line with the Moose.
Blomqvist and Brassard would be my two wingers for the Moose's 4th line, with whomever (John Albert?) as their centre. I'm not if C.J. Franklin will graduate next year, but perhaps he, Tanner Lane and Jimmy Lodge are our top line in Tulsa.
Defensively, we need help at LHD on the Moose. Acquiring a tweener, who fits our team, like Tyler Wotherspoon would be a start. I don't know if Sami Niku would be ready to make the jump, but he is an option. Melchiori does not impress me much, he is not steady like Chiarot. I would prefer to bring back Jay Harrison, and make him the captain of the Moose, allowing him to transition from player to coach, within the organization. The right side will need development with Kichton, leading the offense, and Kostalek and Nogier developing into steady stay at home defensemen, which was why I would prefer the seasoned vet for the long road.
Goaltending, I think we need to let Hutch go. He can not carry the load. Pavelec is a better goalie, and having Helleybuck pushing him is going to make us strong in net.
I would like to see Comrie get more games with the Moose, and if he is bought out, or if there is a deal to be made, with retention, bring in Ben Scrivens as the #4 goalie in the organization, a veteran to help in the mentoring process.
I think our goal next season should be to become a team that can effectively win 2-1, 3-2 games, by being more mobile, using more transition speed, being stronger on the special teams (Hamonic, Petan), and reliable in net.
As for rearranging the letters, I would make Wheeler the captain, and make Scheifele and Buff alternates. This would be a step to ensuring our leaders are also our best players.
Ultimately it is Maurice who decides how these things will be done but if he is not capable of coaching successful ST's then HE NEEDS TO HIRE coaches who are!
