Roy and Farrell open up a lot of potential combinations with Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Dach, Monahan if we can re-sign him, our 2023 first pick, and a Dubois or other legit 2C via trade/UFA (we have the cash to do it). Nine top 6ers is a real contender.
Again, the key to a solid forward nucleus, as always, is the C-line. If, after years of not even having two top-6 Cs, we can somehow reach a point where we have 4 natural Cs with top-6 skills (at C or W) on our top two-lines, we will be sitting pretty going forward.
We currently see that Dach is presently the best match with Suzuki and Caufield on the first line and the reasoning behind that is pretty simple, supported cleanly by the stats.
With Dach, who falls back defensively to cover those assignments in the D-zone as a C, the Suzuki line jumps from low 40s to mid 50s in percentage of shots controlled, scoring opportunities Vs opponents and puck possession jumps up. Even if Slafkovsky were to be a beast in puck possession on a line with Caufield and Suzuki, for example, he could not give Suzuki the latitude that a natural C playing ion the wing can, as he can cover the pivot's role by falling back first in defensive assignments for the D-zone.
His ability to handle defensive assignments early in our zone frees up Suzuki to create offensively. As a winger, a natural C can ease in and out of those assignments in support of the line's pivot.
Dubois, for example, on a line with Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson or Dvorsky, could do the same thing, allowing Fantilli or Carlsson to play deeper in the O-zone (net front presence?) and limiting the need for them to fall back as quickly when puck possession changes hands between teams.
Having four natural Cs in the top-6 also guarantees a top-6 C for the top-6 even if the injury bug hits us hard. Suzuki and Bedardf/Fantilli/Carlsson/Dvorsky, could go down, for example and we would still have Dubois and Dach as Cs to hold the fort.
Then, we'd have Caufield and Slafkovsky as top-6 wingers and the potential to find two other top 6 wingers for the third line amongst, Farrell, Roy, Mesar and Heineman. If two of those end up top-6 quality wingers and play on an exploitation, offensive third line (with Beck at C, maybe) instead of the top-6, we are swimming in offensive talent and sitting in the driver's seat.
Depending on the quality of the 2023 draft and the development of the prospects already in the system and showing really well at their respective levels for the moment, we could be really blessed for the future. Adding Dubois to the mix would only raise the level of compete one notch higher and we could be a contender again, IMO, within four years, five at the latest.
Suzuki would be in his prime at 27, 28 and Caufield would be mind-blowing by then at only 26, 27. There would be a window of about two years before needing to re-sign Suzuki, three years before needing to re-sign Caufield and Dubois and three years before needing to re-sign the 2023 draft class and other notables like Farrell, Roy, Mesar and Heineman.
Then, there's the D, but that's another story entirely.
