It looks like Frattin might be playing on the 4th line to start the year. I think Kadri is a lock for the top 9 as you can't forgo skill especially in a short season and let's face it, he's in game shape.
Same goes with Frattin, him on the 4th line isn't ideal but sure is an interesting dynamic. He's got the size so we don't have to worry about him getting out muscled.
Connolly has too much experience and is good defensively so I think he's going to be around until the deadline if we aren't in a playoff spot.
Lupul - Bozak - Kessel
JVR - Grabovski - MacArthur
Connolly - Kadri - Kulemin
Komarov - McClement - Frattin
Steckel Brown
I like the depth this group has. We can afford to have one or two of our top 6 guys go down to injury (which is likely this year) without too much of a problem.
Really doubt this is the lineup we go with. One of Kadri or Frattin has to be down in the A unless we can make another deal, because I do not see the point in playing either of them on the 4th line. It should be top 9 spot or the A.
It seems McClemment will be our #3 C to start the year, which means Steckel will be the #4 C. RC likes to play Connolly in a defensive role, so I assume he will be a part of McClemment's "shutdown" line. I expect the bottom 6 to be:
Connolly - McClemment - Kulemin/(Frattin/Kadri)
Komarov - Steckel - Brown/Mac
Which leaves Frattin/Kadri to play wing on the 2nd line with Grabo and JVR. I expect JVR/Lupul/Connolly to miss about 10-25 man games combined, so Kadri/Frattin (whoever is in the A) should get a pretty good look during the season.
One more season in the A can't hurt the kids that bad. If they do need to send Kadri to the A, I hope they sit him down, and make him understand that it was purely due to the numbers game and not his play.