We wont go with 8D, don't see it happening, it's always been 7. And Lassi almost certainly wont be on the starting roster, he's not waiver exempt. If short term injuries happen and you need a stop gap, then it will most likely be Guenette or Kleven that will get the call rather than Lassi since they don't have to go through waivers. Only way I see Thomson getting a shot at this point is if there was a major long term injury and he improves his play significantly in the AHL to force their hand and give him a go. He'll need to impress in Belleville first though, if he gets the call and Dorion quickly sours on him, we'll most likely loose him in waivers. He has to stick once he's up.
Not being waiver exempt is exactly why we'll likely go with 8 if we pick up another body unless someone is traded. In the past, JBD, Thomson, and Brannstrom having waiver exemption was the reason we went with 7 D, no reason to have a guy in the pressbox when he could be in the AHL logging mins, but we have 7 guys under contract that need to pass through waivers if we want them to start the year in Belleville, that makes this year different.
Does Lassi need to clear waivers first if he is still under a 2-way contract to start in Belleville rather than on the roster beginning of the season?
2 way contract is just about what he's paid while he's in the AHL.
Hamonic might cost too much AAV salary and might only sign here if it is for 2 or more seasons. I'm OK with moving on from Hamonic even though he adds some experience and physicality versus the other options we have. Would still like a big D who plays physical and strong defensively.
Oh ok, didn't realize he'll have to clear first. Wouldn't be surprised he's moved before then or maybe we take a chance and hope he clears at season start if that's his best chance not getting picked up. Carrying him as an extra 8th D when they don't think he should be up wouldn't make sense, you'll just end up sending him down a little later anyhow and also have a higher risk of losing him than doing it at the beginning.
I am going to be a contrarian here and suggest that Thomson makes the team out of training camp.
I honestly dont know why he was the one they called up. He's terrible, a defensive d man that is slow undersized and scared. No offensive skill, no patience with the puck. Rather see him sent down and Matinpalo stay up once Zub is back. He's bigger, longer better defender than JBD.
