If we sell, we don’t have high value graduating players. Probably Foster is the only player we have returning that may have a high value. But, he is an OA so he is likely worth somewhere around (2-3-5). That value won’t change. IF we can get that for him in the offseason, we should take it. Marrelli would be the highest value player but he is likely to be the only viable OA for 2026-27. I cannot see him traded. Dever is a flexible player that can play Centre Ice and RW. That is more valuable than Barlas as a centre/LW. I’d probably try to find a spot for Barlas elsewhere. But, I think it will be difficult to move foster in the offseason so I think that is likely a deadline deal.
The ‘07 group is too thick. But, in fairness, a lot of those players are only in the picture because we had a lot of injuries last eyar. Players like Bowes, Souliere, and Avila wouldn’t have played any games had we not had injuries. Houben is another player that really isn’t a contributor and looks to be only in the way. If the priority is to think future, then players like Perrier and Bonomo need time. They cannot get any time if the marginal ‘07s are clogging up the roster. I think we need to consider those guys in particular to be nothing other than periphery players.
We will pick an Import but it will likely be a 17 year old. If so, I think we’d be in a great situation if we end up with someone same/similar quality and maturity of Ekberg last year. So, it won’t be a player that can play 1st line or 1C. But, maybe it is a player that can play in the top 6 with Ekberg. We have enough defence now as well as future defence. We shouldn’t be looking at defence now for the Import. It needs to be a right shooting centre that can shift to RW if he isn’t a strong enough centre.
Considering all of that, I think some iteration of below is most likely. They are puzzle pieces that will move around so don’t focus too heavily on the where and what line. It is more about looking at the names still on the list vs the ones not on the list…
Foster(OA) - Dever(OA) - Kelly
Whitehead - Ekberg(IMP) - IMPORT
Amidovski - Vandenberg(NCAA) - Zielinski(NCAA)
Kingwell - Chitaroni(16) - Yanni
Hayes(16) - Perrier
Jackson - Eshkawkogan
White(NCAA) - Marrelli
Dietsch - Brady
Bonomo/Avila - Johnson(16)
I arranged the lines more so we can see what graduates and you essentially push the lines up one slot. So, Amidovski-Vandenberg-Zielinski as a line full of high quality 17 year olds is interesting. That line could play together for three seasons.
Someone is going to have to shift to Centre. Whitehead is a possibility since he is a natural centre that was unable at his maturity level to nail it down. Ekberg could shift there as well.
Eshkawkogan and Jackson seem like a good pairing. White should be fighting to get into the top 6. He’s a lefty though so I cannot see him unseating the three guys ahead of him. Someone would have to switch to the right side. One option is Marrelli shifting to the right side so White plays as his D-Partner with Johnson occupying the #7 hole. If Bonomo makes the team, he’s will be strictly a stay at home third pairing guy. Jackson, White, and Dietsch are all 18 year olds. They’ll return the following season. So, I am not at all certain Bonomo will get a shot this season. Avila seems maybe a little more likely as a replacement for Brady next year. Also, we need to consider that Campbell would be coming in on the left side next year making an even bigger log jam for Bonomo.
I could see them go out and fill that last OA slot with a capable OA goalie. Not a goalie that needs or should be a starter but someone capable enough to provide some stability. Nelson needs to take over the net as the primary but that doesn’t mean he should be starting 50 games. Maybe something like a 40-28 split.
Notice all the current signed forwards off the roster. I think the question we need to ask is whether any of the ones off the lineup are capable of unseating players on the list. You could argue that Houben could unseat Perrier. Sure, but Houben is an 18 year old and Perrier is a 17 year old. Why keep Houben as an 18 year old 5th line player? Same question for a player like Yanni but someone gets the nod and I think it will be him. Of the forwards on my list, only Foster, Dever, and Kelly don’t return. We will have more young players inserted next year so it makes it tough for those marginal ‘07s to gain a role.
If nothing else, I think this shows all the difficult choices. It also highlights the uncertainty at centre and that uncertainty reverberates throughout the rest of the roster which creates even more uncertainty. I think the Import slot will tell more of a tail, as will whether Zielenski and Vandenberg sign.
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