Opening day:
14 forwards
Slafkovsky Suzuki Caufield
Newhook Dach Laine
Roy Dvorak Anderson
Armia Evans Gallagher
Pezzetta Heineman (potential waiver if don’t make team)
7 defensemen
Matheson Guhle
Hutson Savard
Xhekaj Struble
Barron
2 goalies
Montembault
Primeau
23 man roster
By the end of season:
Slafkovsky Suzuki Caufield
Newhook Dach Laine
Roy Kapanen Anderson
Armia Beck Gallagher
Heineman Pezzetta
Matheson Guhle
Hutson Mailloux
Xhekaj Struble
Barron
Montembault
Primeau
I think Evans, Dvorak, Savard will be traded. Evans is very valuable for a playoff team looking for playoff experience bottom 6 smart penalty killer. Evans will be get us a prospect and maybe a 2nd round pick. Savard is extremely valuable for a contender. He shut downs players and kills penalties. Big heavy playoff defenseman will get us a 1st round pick for sure since supply is low. Dvorak is a face off specialist, smart kills penalties for bottom 6 contender. I think he’ll get us a little more value than Evans so expect a 2nd round pick and prospects.
I think by February March, Kapanen and Beck should be on the team. I think they are almost NHL ready. Kapanen I think has untapped offensive potential. There’s an Elias Lindholm in his game. Beck is a coaches’ player. I don’t think his offense game with transition to the NHL. He’ll be a very good 3rd or 4th line center. Kills penalties and shutdown players. I think both Kapanen and Beck are 30-35 points players, Kapanen is a little more mysterious as his offensive game could sky rocket and he’ll be our 2nd line center if he turns out to be Elias Lindholm. Mailloux is almost NHL ready, he’ll need to correct some of his game in Laval. Needs another 30-40 games down there. Should be a 30-35 points defenseman. I don’t think his offensive game will transition from AHL/Junior to the NHL simply because NHL players are much faster and there’s no time like AHL/junior for Mailloux to setup his game.
Also I wouldn’t be surprised if Dobes takes over for Primeau.
Ideally contender roster:
Slafkovsky Suzuki Demidov
Laine Dach Caufield
Newhook Kapanen Hage
Roy Beck Anderson (if)
Tuch Xhekaj
Guhle Reinbacher
Hutson Maillouix
Xhekaj Konyushkov
Struble Engstrom
Montembault
Dobes