I think the zetterlund trade told us all what Grier is thinking, and I think the lottery balls may dictate to a degree what Grier does/does not attempt to acquire this summer (if he gets schaefer, he may look to add more young forwards. If Misa, then young D is the top target). However, the future roster became pretty obvious in grier's mind's eye. mack-Smith-Ostapchuk down the middle. Big and Powerful wingers (cherny, musty, haltunnen) and Eklund flanking Smith and Celly. Dick, Mukh, Thompson, Thrun as the big 4 on D, though Havelid, Cagnoni, Pohlcamp, LSW may get a chance.
I think The D is the main area of focus at this point, and Grier said so himself. He pointedly did NOT talk about Cagnoni almost at all, even when a question was posed about him.
I also think he might rush up the kids, much like smith:
Down the middle: Celebrini, Smith, Ostapchuk, bystedt
Top 6 Wings: Eklund, Musty, Chernshov, Graf, Haltunnen, Cardwell... Lund may move to wing to start.
D: Schaefer, Dick, Mukh, Thompson, Thrun, Cagnoni, Pohlcamp... Possibly LSW/Havelid/Landen/Roberts/Misskey.
Ostapchuk and Bystedt give size down the middle. Cherny, Musty, and Haltunnen are also pretty large. Lund is good size at 6'2.
If they lose the lottery, they select Misa/Martone, and that completes the top 6 wings, and the D is where an acquisition or two has to happen. I get the feeling that Cagnoni and Bystedt are now the biggest pro-level trade chips, along with draft capital, to acquire another core piece: Likely a top 4 D under 23. Could a deal of Cagnoni, Bystedt, Thrun, and Edmonton 1st rounder be enough to land a young top Dman this summer?
Obviously, I cannot imagine this team taking shape for a few years, but then again, they rushed smith and while the adjustment took half a year or so, he did make it and is now establishing himself as a legit top 6 forward. I wonder if they dont put Musty, Cherny, Dick, Ostapchuk and Cardwell on the starting roster in October. Schaefer or Misa if they draft them too might go straight in. While burning an ELC year kinda sucks, the brain trust seems to think that the NHL is a good developmental league, so they may throw the kids straight in.
If they do put musty (20), cherny (19), cardwell (23), Ostapchuk (22), and say, misa (18) straight in, that would be 5 forwards. Add in smith (20), celebrini (19) Eklund (23), Graf (23), Toffoli, Kovalenko, and Wennberg, (along with Goodrow, Dyll, and Grund) and the forward roster is complete without a single UFA signing. It would also would have to be the yougest top 9F in the history of the sport (9 forwards all 23 or younger including 5 at 20 or younger and then toff, wenn, kovy).
The D would be the area to add but they may put Dick straight in. Dick and Mukh are the base. Schaefer if they get him too. But I would expect him to add here as I didnt get the sense that Thomspon or Thrun seem to fit long term. I expect a trade/UFA signing and if they lose the lottery, then draft Misa/martone and likely use the #30 (dallas) and #33 (ours) on D with size, especially solid in our own zone (not necessarily offensively): Blake Fiddler, Kurban Limatov, Sascha Boumedienne types.
In sum, it seems quite obvious given Giles, Ostapchuk, and Desharnais adds that grier wants size and toughness over pure skill. he even said that a team of celebrinis and smiths would not be good!! Clearly, Size and toughness is the focus for grier, and he obviously is clearing space long term for the hulking wingers he has drafted. I expect he will use all the top 4 picks this year (or at least 3) to complete the pool with another high end D (schaefer) and two more wingers or a top winger and two more D, depending on the lottery.
