It's difficult to say who we should lose. Stamkos would have been my pick for a plethora of reasons but that ship has sailed. Kucherov is the only one remaining who is almost certainly safe. Drouin might end up the best forward on the team but he's also going to be the most difficult to resign and if his attitude problems resurface that might argue for his exit. Johnson has durability concerns, is the most dependent on his linemates, and is arguably the easiest to replace but he plays the most valuable position and has fantastic chemistry with Kucherov. Palat just makes everybody on the ice with him better but his postseason production leaves a bit to be desired. And Killorn has been ordinary in the regular season but turns into a beast in the playoffs.
Personally I'd lose Killorn first, simply because Drouin's potential is too great and I hate the idea of breaking up the Triplets. If he isn't enough I might go with Johnson next, as Namestnikov or Point could potentially replace him and Drouin's and Palat's skillsets are simply too rare and difficult to replace. Either way we'll really need Stamkos and Palat to step up their games in the playoffs as Johnson and Killorn have been our second and third best postseason scorers respectively over the past two years. Palat at least contributes in other ways, but unless Stamkos suddenly turns into a playoff beast his signing is going to look like a massive mistake on Yzerman's part going forward.
Personally I'd lose Killorn first, simply because Drouin's potential is too great and I hate the idea of breaking up the Triplets. If he isn't enough I might go with Johnson next, as Namestnikov or Point could potentially replace him and Drouin's and Palat's skillsets are simply too rare and difficult to replace. Either way we'll really need Stamkos and Palat to step up their games in the playoffs as Johnson and Killorn have been our second and third best postseason scorers respectively over the past two years. Palat at least contributes in other ways, but unless Stamkos suddenly turns into a playoff beast his signing is going to look like a massive mistake on Yzerman's part going forward.
