MN's 2025-26 D Line up.

[57special]

Given's
Spurgeon
Brodin
Middleton
Faber
Bogo

Maybe's
Chisholm
Jiricek
Buium
Spacek(currently the top D scorer in Iowa, by a long shot, but still a longshot)
Lambos

Gone
Merrill(wouldn't put it past BG to re-sign him for one more year)
Dermott

So, there are two spots to fill, one playing more or less full time, and a #7, who will be sitting. The LHD/RHD situation is pretty good, with Chisholm and Buium being LH, the Czech's RH.

Personally, I think that Chisholm will be traded, as his "light" PMD game is not needed, as Spurgeon, Brodin, Faber, Buium, Spacek, and Jiricek all have similar or better puck skills, and/or better defensive games. One of Buium, Lambos, or a re-signed Merrill will get the #3 LHD spot out of camp. Buium is definitely the long term answer, but I can see him being in the AHL for half a year or so, rather than sitting him on the bench. Jiricek is tougher one to figure. Keeping him around as a #7D is not ideal, nor is playing him with another rookie LHD(Lambos/Buium), Merrill(yech), or a RHD playing on his offside. If we keep Chisholm then that's an option, even though he isn't the ideal "babysitter". I think the ideal partner for Jiricek is Brodin, but that might throw the rest of the lineup out of whack.

What do you think our lineup will be next year, and what do you think it should be?

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[thestonedkoala]

I think they'll trade Lambos like Beckman

 

[MNRube]

Consolidate one or both of Lambos and Chisholm for a crease-clearing nasty SOB.

I believe Buium earns a spot right away. Ultimately think he gets paired with Faber, just because they would work well together. Spurgeon is a bit small for him and I see Jiricek taking Bogo’s spot and doubt we will see two rookies on a pair.

Bogo has been good but he’s a ticking time-bomb.

Buium-Faber
Middleton-Spurgeon
Brodin-Jiricek/Bogo
(Spacek/Crease-Clearing Guy)

 

[Circulartheory]

I don't think Buium is going to jump in like Faber did. But we got a perfect spot for him. Play him on the 3rd pairing but give him #2 PP minutes as THE QB and slowly transition him upwards.

Brodin-Faber
Middleton-Spurgeon
Buium-Jiricek/Spacek
Bogo

Jiricek is still a project and Buium is going to be fresh out of college so Bogosian is a good #7 option to throw in if one of the youngsters start to feel overwhelmed.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

It'll be:

Middleton - Faber
Brodin - Spurgeon
Buium - Bogosian

or

Middleton - Faber
Brodin - Jiricek
Buium - Spurgeon

 

[AKL]

I think they'll probably start Buium in the AHL, sign Chisholm for another year, and possibly bring in another Dermott type to be the 7D.

Injuries will happen soon enough and that's when Buium and Jiricek will get their chances again.

 

[MNRube]

I don't think Buium is going to jump in like Faber did. But we got a perfect spot for him. Play him on the 3rd pairing but give him #2 PP minutes as THE QB and slowly transition him upwards.

Brodin-Faber
Middleton-Spurgeon
Buium-Jiricek/Spacek
Bogo

Jiricek is still a project and Buium is going to be fresh out of college so Bogosian is a good #7 option to throw in if one of the youngsters start to feel overwhelmed.

He will likely have a stranglehold on PP1 by this time next year. They may shelter him a bit 5v5, but he’s pretty clearly already an NHL level player. It helps that he brings an element we don’t have. He’s been the best dman in college hockey for 2 years in a row. Could probably handle major minutes right now, IMO

Main question is what happens between Jiricek & BOGO. Jiricek looks good up here but his Iowa production is concerning.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

He will likely have a stranglehold on PP1 by this time next year. They may shelter him a bit 5v5, but he’s pretty clearly already an NHL level player. It helps that he brings an element we don’t have. He’s been the best dman in college hockey for 2 years in a row. Could probably handle major minutes right now, IMO

Main question is what happens between Jiricek & BOGO. Jiricek looks good up here but his Iowa production is concerning.

The first part pretty much cancels out the second part for me.

 

[MNRube]

The first part pretty much cancels out the second part for me.

I tend to agree, especially given his AHL track record with Cleveland - but still concerning. Really would be nice if our farm team wasn’t a complete abomination

 

[BagHead]

I don't know who will or won't make the team, but there's enough competition on the right side that I think Bogosian might be the 7th defenseman by the end of next year. I also think Buium will make the team if he signs rather than goes back to college for his 3rd year, though he may be a player who bounces up and down.

He will likely have a stranglehold on PP1 by this time next year. They may shelter him a bit 5v5, but he’s pretty clearly already an NHL level player. It helps that he brings an element we don’t have. He’s been the best dman in college hockey for 2 years in a row. Could probably handle major minutes right now, IMO

Main question is what happens between Jiricek & BOGO. Jiricek looks good up here but his Iowa production is concerning.

It's kind of funny, but I view his Iowa production in an opposite way. If he looks pretty decent for Minnesota, and his production is that bad in Iowa, imagine what Spacek might be able to do! That, of course, only holds if Jiricek is actually trying to score down there. If he's not, then that says more about him than Spacek.