At the end of the day....there will most certainly be someone in the lineup who is currently not a Hab or prospect for us. Predicting that name is impossible. This is how I see it in 14 months time.....
Slaf - Suzuki - Caufield/Demidov*
UFA/Trade** - Dach - Demidov/Caufield
Newhook - Beck - Roy
Anderson - UFA/Trade*** - Gally
Pezz
Guhle - Matheson****
Hutson - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Mailloux
Barron
Monty*****
Fowler
* Expecting Demidov to walk in next year as a rookie and be in our top 6 is actually a tall order. I love the pick and have high hopes, but realistically he will need some North American seasoning before being gifted a top 6 role. For this exercise I'll pencil him in top 6.
** I still see us making a move for a 24-28 year old top 6 winger. I dream of Laine, but expect some type of surprise, that no one predicts.
*** I have no problem keeping Evans here, will just need to be resigned. If not him, maybe we go hunting for a veteran bottom 6 centre with faceoff skills. Ideally someone with speed. Also on this bottom line, I don't see us getting rid of Andy or Gally quite yet. I actually think (minus there cost) that they are stanley cup 4th liners.
**** Matheson will start next year with us, and will likely be trade fodder at the TDL depending on our spot in the playoff hunt. I expect big things from Rein, Mailloux and Barron this year, and one of them will be ready for that #1 RD role by TDL 26.
***** Monty will win out the battle between him and Primeau, and I see Primeau being trade fodder to give us room to bring Fowler along.
Beck, Demi and Rein will all likely be pure rookies. I expect Mailloux to get enough games this year, but Rein likely won't. 3 rookies in the lineup, is enough for my liking.
I see a lot of people pencilling Hage in there. I think he either returns to Michigan for year 2, or maybe starts in Laval next year. My hope is that Hage excels to the point where we have a very difficult decision to make in our top 6 on who we are going to trade.