Speculation: 2023-24 Roster Thread

[Deuce22]

Fowler is going nowhere with that trade clause of his unless we want to get screwed

Then one or two of the D prospects are. I can see LaCombe and Mintyukov passing Fowler by next season. Are we keeping Zellweger at SD until Fowler's deal runs out? If Luneau looks good in his audition then the right side could be spoken for with Drysdale/Gudas/Luneau. Could be pretty crowded.

 

[FiveHoleTickler]

It's easy to fall in love with the Vatrano-McTavish-Strome line after this weekend, but I'm a little cautious about the group sticking together long term. Carlsson coming back possibly as early as Thursday could complicate things and once Killorn is healthy who knows?

You'd figure both of them coming back would push Vatrano and Strome to the third line, but how do you justify that if they keep playing like they did last night?

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

It's easy to fall in love with the Vatrano-McTavish-Strome line after this weekend, but I'm a little cautious about the group sticking together long term. Carlsson coming back possibly as early as Thursday could complicate things and once Killorn is healthy who knows?

You'd figure both of them coming back would push Vatrano and Strome to the third line, but how do you justify that if they keep playing like they did last night?

No need to complicate things.. Strome and Vatrano can dominate with third minutes... Carlsson and Killhorn will make our offense dynamite..

 

[ScarTroy]

It's easy to fall in love with the Vatrano-McTavish-Strome line after this weekend, but I'm a little cautious about the group sticking together long term. Carlsson coming back possibly as early as Thursday could complicate things and once Killorn is healthy who knows?

You'd figure both of them coming back would push Vatrano and Strome to the third line, but how do you justify that if they keep playing like they did last night?

We’ve had much worse problems I’d much rather us be talking about pushing guys down the lineup that don’t deserve it, rather than bringing guys up into the top 6 that don’t deserve it.

 

[Rybread86]

Finally, full video

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Wonder how Silfverberg feels about being stripped of his A in the final season of his contract.

He's lucky to even be in the lineup, somehow he's getting PP time in reality when healthy he's not a top 12 forward or top 8 wing on this team

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

He's lucky to even be in the lineup, somehow he's getting PP time in reality when healthy he's not a top 12 forward or top 8 wing on this team

Yep... hes lucky he just wasnt bought out of sent to AHL... im not sure what the plan is when carlsson/killorn but id be pretty mad if we kick out Johnston/leason/groulx/carrick for him.

 

[Gliff]

Then one or two of the D prospects are. I can see LaCombe and Mintyukov passing Fowler by next season. Are we keeping Zellweger at SD until Fowler's deal runs out? If Luneau looks good in his audition then the right side could be spoken for with Drysdale/Gudas/Luneau. Could be pretty crowded.

If Fowler is our 4th best LHD then there are a lot worse things then that.

Not really an issue since LaCombe plays the off side. Same with Hinds. And the odds are that not all of them will pan out.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Yep... hes lucky he just wasnt bought out of sent to AHL... im not sure what the plan is when carlsson/killorn but id be pretty mad if we kick out Johnston/leason/groulx/carrick for him.

Maybe it's them trying to have respect for him and he will be phased out slowly, he can't play 4th line I think they're clearly trying to make that a big physical line. Killorn and Leo are both gonna be in the top 9 you would think

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Then one or two of the D prospects are. I can see LaCombe and Mintyukov passing Fowler by next season. Are we keeping Zellweger at SD until Fowler's deal runs out? If Luneau looks good in his audition then the right side could be spoken for with Drysdale/Gudas/Luneau. Could be pretty crowded.

Fowler and Gudas' contract end in three seasons, 2025-26. The crunch in prospect vying for an NHL spot could very well be in 2024-25 and 2025-26. But I don't want to trade prospects because we will be moving on from Fowler and Gudas in the future. Plus, recall we lost Drysdale for the season last year and Vaaks has been injury prone.

This season is a development season focused on defense. I was expecting only LaCombe to make the team, but we have three rookies. We're jumpstarting it a year earlier than I thought with Minty looking good and Luneau being held on to start the season. We need to wait this season out because once teams have video on our rookies, then that will be the real test. The league caught up to Drysdale quick in his first 24-NHL game season.

Adding Zell and Hinds to Helleson gives us depth to develop and call up with waiver exemptions. Helleson looks like he's being passed up by Zell and Hinds early. Then we're going to be adding Warren and possibly Moore.

 

[FiveHoleTickler]

We’ve had much worse problems I’d much rather us be talking about pushing guys down the lineup that don’t deserve it, rather than bringing guys up into the top 6 that don’t deserve it.

Yeah, let's not talk about it since things have been worse.

 

[Leonardo87]

 

[Leonardo87]

Line speculation? Rico gets dropped to the 3rd line?

Carlsson/Zegras - Carlsson/Zegras - Terry
Vatrano - McTavish - Strome
Jones - Rico - Leason
Carrick - Groulx - Silf
Johnston

 

[All Mighty]

Line speculation? Rico gets dropped to the 3rd line?

Carlsson/Zegras - Carlsson/Zegras - Terry
Vatrano - McTavish - Strome
Jones - Rico - Leason
Carrick - Groulx - Silf
Johnston

That 3rd line is really weird, but I kind of want to see it.

 

[Leonardo87]

That 3rd line is really weird, but I kind of want to see it.

Think Leason has earned a shot on the 3rd line, from his preseason and last game. Curious also. I just don't see Silf on the 3rd line anymore.

Then when Killorn gets back in a couple of weeks, will have some decisions to make, that Mac line has been very good, and if they stay hot, will be hard to break it up.

 

[Sean Garrity]

Line speculation? Rico gets dropped to the 3rd line?

Carlsson/Zegras - Carlsson/Zegras - Terry
Vatrano - McTavish - Strome
Jones - Rico - Leason
Carrick - Groulx - Silf
Johnston

That 3rd line is really weird, but I kind of want to see it.

I mean it's all you can do. Rico doesn't come out, first line wasn't great and you can't break up the second line after their performance. Groulx was a beast in the dot and PK, Carrick scored a goal. I liked Johnston, and would prefer him to Silf which is sad to say where Silf has landed. I'd switch Johnston and Silf.

 

[MMC]

Why not start Leo on the 3rd line to ease him in, no need to give him tough minutes right away. Gives Rico time to hit his stride as well.

 

[Leonardo87]

Why not start Leo on the 3rd line to ease him in, no need to give him tough minutes right away. Gives Rico time to hit his stride as well.

So run Z, Mac, and Leo down the middle? I actually like that. Leo will get his ice time but should be eased in.

 

[MMC]

So run Z, Mac, and Leo down the middle? I actually like that. Leo will get his ice time but should be eased in.

Think you could start him at wing too, like they did with Zegras and McTavish.

 

[MMC]

 

[Leonardo87]

Think you could start him at wing too, like they did with Zegras and McTavish.

What I also like about this, it will have him face lesser competition in his first NHL game. Teams will be focused more on Zegras, Terry, and the Mac line. Can still get his mins in , especially on the PP.

 

[Leonardo87]

Hope it's just a maintenance day for Drysdale who has looked excellent so far.

Edit: Leo right at 1C, they have a lot of faith in this kid, so do I. Just thought they'd ease him in there.

 

[Ducks DVM]

Zegras Carlsson Terry looked incredibly dangerous in preseason, timing was just off and the shots weren’t going on net. That has the chance to be a legit top line, which I don’t think we have had in 6-7+ years.

 

[Leonardo87]

Zegras Carlsson Terry looked incredibly dangerous in preseason, timing was just off and the shots weren’t going on net. That has the chance to be a legit top line, which I don’t think we have had in 6-7+ years.

They are confident in this kid to throw him right out there. Rico has been disappointing to start the season, so it's fitting he gets dropped to the 3rd line. When Killorn gets back things will be very interesting.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Hope it's just a maintenance day for Drysdale who has looked excellent so far.

Edit: Leo right at 1C, they have a lot of faith in this kid, so do I. Just thought they'd ease him in there.

There's a balance between easing him in and wanting to give him wingers that play to his strengths, and it seems like the coaches are less concerned with the former and more with the latter.

Personally I'm not too concerned with easing him in and he can always be moved to shelter if it's not working. For the same reasons I think people shouldn't get too attached to that Mac line either. But anyway I hope it sparks Z and Terry who have only had flashes of good play so far. That's almost $13M right there!