As of today, I see the forward lineup kinda like this:
A lot of the proposals here have PLD at wing and Lappy at Center. We need PLD to be 1C (at least to start the season). He gets paid like one and Strome doesn’t work with OV. Reading articles on PLD I think he will do well at Center and with OV. I then like Protas up there because he can do solo board battles and is also a good passer. That line isn’t fast, but sounds like PLD can carry the puck. Goal of this line is to get OV goals and be an offensive contributor. More like a second line but as long as OV is here he is going to be first line like it or not.
Lappy can carry the puck even if he is on the wing. Strome and Lappy can interchange where needed and Wilson is your space creator and net front presence. And Lappy protector. Haha.
I don’t think McMike gets enough credit but he has a nice step forward last year with 18 goals and better speed than people give him credit for. mangi and Oshie give some savvy to that line and I think they can move the puck well.
This relegates Milano to 4th line duty which he can do, but I would prefer to move him and bring back a cheaper 4LW from outside. Fill the right side internally. We also need depth in Hershey and Trineyev, Rybinski, Dube are all waivers exempt so they can be callups. Sutter and Frank in NHL. If Oshie goes down for stretches Frank can play up to 3RW. So one will be 12 and one will be 13.