Roster Building XXII: Too Many Forwards, Hopefully One Cup

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I really hope Suzuki has a strong showing at camp and can stay healthy.

 

[WreckingCrew]

BRINDAMOUR 2C? WE'RE SUNK KILL THEM ALL

 

[DaveG]

Most interesting to me is FUS at C. Strictly out of necessity or could the kid make the move to the position full time?

 

[NotOpie]

Drury to 2C by about October 15th

I think that there's more of a possibility of Drury moving to 2LW. He played that often at Harvard. Play that often in Sweden. He's more of a C, but he can and has played LW successfully in his career.

What really interests me are the 1st and 3rd lines w/the rookie group. It wouldn't surprise me if Chicago looks something like this. Blake/Unger Sorum/Nadeau is all offense, all of the time w/FUS being expected to shoulder some serious defensive responsibilities. But the line that intrigues me is Trikozov/Suzuki/Gunler. That group will score and potentially score a lot especially against other 3rd lines. I don't see the phrase "responsible defensively" ever being used with that line, however.

 

[bleedgreen]

Most interesting to me is FUS at C. Strictly out of necessity or could the kid make the move to the position full time?

Probably a bit of both. Trying to figure out exactly how versatile he is at this point.

The top line is an interesting study if you believe one will make it from that group. Nadeau has the shot and anticipation to use it but is pretty weak and most likely behind the curve defensively as he wasn’t really a stand out that way as an NCAA player. Blake can probably play anywhere in the lineup and be a spark plug, and he’s clearly done the work to be stronger but his game is probably the most raw. FUS has the all around ability you’d think Rod would like but he’s tiny, very young and you’d think would need some adjustment to bring over here.

I still think up to today that Suzuki has Rod’s eye but he’s not very high in the lineup to start here. They clearly are looking at the first line kids very closely.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Most interesting to me is FUS at C. Strictly out of necessity or could the kid make the move to the position full time?

There is a twitter post with FUS comment that the last time he played C was age 14. But, he was up for the challenge (my words)

Btw: he appears to be a playmaker that goal scoring wingers would benefit from if he could master the position.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

Probably a bit of both. Trying to figure out exactly how versatile he is at this point.

The top line is an interesting study if you believe one will make it from that group. Nadeau has the shot and anticipation to use it but is pretty weak and most likely behind the curve defensively as he wasn’t really a stand out that way as an NCAA player. Blake can probably play anywhere in the lineup and be a spark plug, and he’s clearly done the work to be stronger but his game is probably the most raw. FUS has the all around ability you’d think Rod would like but he’s tiny, very young and you’d think would need some adjustment to bring over here.

I still think up to today that Suzuki has Rod’s eye but he’s not very high in the lineup to start here. They clearly are looking at the first line kids very closely.

Good analysis. If I had to guess, I'd say FUS is the most likely of the 3 to make the team this year. But it's also quite possible we play no rookies and really do slot Robinson, Lemieux, Jost to fill out the bottom 6. More than anything I'd like it to be a meritocracy and have the best players make the team, whether they are 20 or 30 years old.

 

[chaz4hockey]

BRINDAMOUR 2C? WE'RE SUNK KILL THEM ALL

That lineup is AHL championship worthy

 

[DaveG]

Probably a bit of both. Trying to figure out exactly how versatile he is at this point.

The top line is an interesting study if you believe one will make it from that group. Nadeau has the shot and anticipation to use it but is pretty weak and most likely behind the curve defensively as he wasn’t really a stand out that way as an NCAA player. Blake can probably play anywhere in the lineup and be a spark plug, and he’s clearly done the work to be stronger but his game is probably the most raw. FUS has the all around ability you’d think Rod would like but he’s tiny, very young and you’d think would need some adjustment to bring over here.

I still think up to today that Suzuki has Rod’s eye but he’s not very high in the lineup to start here. They clearly are looking at the first line kids very closely.

See I'm not so sure that Rod isn't keeping a close eye on Suzuki especially since he's paired up with Gleb who kindof blew up (offensively at least) at the prospect showcase. Gunler is the one odd-ball on that unit.

 

[bleedgreen]

See I'm not so sure that Rod isn't keeping a close eye on Suzuki especially since he's paired up with Gleb who kindof blew up (offensively at least) at the prospect showcase. Gunler is the one odd-ball on that unit.

Yeah where he put Suzuki is definitely open to interpretation. I generally think Rod has his mind mostly made up already so he has an idea of who’s got a shot going in which means someone has to surprise. There a chance the top 3 are together because they may be a line together in Chicago and this allows all the big dogs of the organization see them as a unit, while trying to build chemistry. That vs them competing against each other for a spot. Maybe Suzuki has a great chance already and they don’t need to see him early.

Always fun to see how this part goes.

 

[CanesUltimate11]

So you're saying we should overreact immediately?

 

[spockBokk]

Personally, if they’re not going to bring in another scorers, I want to see Kotkaniemi at LW:

Kotkaniemi-Aho-Jarvis
Svechnikov-Drury-Necas
Martinook-Staal-Carrier(?) or mystery prospect
Lemieux/Robinson-Jost-Roslovic

Gives a little more balance than Svechnikov-Aho-Jarvis.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Yeah where he put Suzuki is definitely open to interpretation. I generally think Rod has his mind mostly made up already so he has an idea of who’s got a shot going in which means someone has to surprise. There a chance the top 3 are together because they may be a line together in Chicago and this allows all the big dogs of the organization see them as a unit, while trying to build chemistry. That vs them competing against each other for a spot. Maybe Suzuki has a great chance already and they don’t need to see him early.

Always fun to see how this part goes.

What Walt calls the lines doesn't matter. Jaaska-Brind'Amour-Grimaldi isn't any more of a second line than Martinook-Staal-Fast would be.

Oh wait, NVM.....

 

[Chrispy]

BRINDAMOUR 2C? WE'RE SUNK KILL THEM ALL

Dundon so cheap he used whiteout on an old 2007 line chart so he didn't have to reprint BrindAmour.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Personally, if they’re not going to bring in another scorers, I want to see Kotkaniemi at LW:

Kotkaniemi-Aho-Jarvis
Svechnikov-Drury-Necas
Martinook-Staal-Carrier(?) or mystery prospect
Lemieux/Robinson-Jost-Roslovic

Gives a little more balance than Svechnikov-Aho-Jarvis.

he was pretty terrible at wing the short time we tried it his first year here. Give him one last shot to grab 2C by the horns and if he doesn't show he can be the guy get out of his contract and look elsewhere to upgrade. I don't really see Drury as a long term guy here either and if it is it's Staal 3C replacement, but we could give him a stab at 2C too. Whoever doesn't get that opportunity will have to be 4C.

We are really missing offensive talent in the top 6 at 2 spots. I think we gotta let one of the kids have the opportunity there. Roslovic in the top 6 is a hard no for me dawg, he should be replacing Fast with Staal and marty.

 

[SvechneJerk]

There is a twitter post with FUS comment that the last time he played C was age 14. But, he was up for the challenge (my words)

Btw: he appears to be a playmaker that goal scoring wingers would benefit from if he could master the position.

I thought he played some C for Team Sweden in the WJC or whatever the tourney was a few months ago, & didn't look out of place.

 

[To Be Determined]

he was pretty terrible at wing the short time we tried it his first year here. Give him one last shot to grab 2C by the horns and if he doesn't show he can be the guy get out of his contract and look elsewhere to upgrade. I don't really see Drury as a long term guy here either and if it is it's Staal 3C replacement, but we could give him a stab at 2C too. Whoever doesn't get that opportunity will have to be 4C.

We are really missing offensive talent in the top 6 at 2 spots. I think we gotta let one of the kids have the opportunity there. Roslovic in the top 6 is a hard no for me dawg, he should be replacing Fast with Staal and marty.

i'll always smoke hopium when it comes to kk.

after being horrible at wing early on as you said, i thought he looked pretty solid there down the stretch last year.

if necas ever gets a shot at c, having kk on the wing could be helpful. big body, can take draws, could clear space for the dipsy doodling...

 

[TheBigLetowski]

Drury at 2C should be a fireable offense.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Drury at 2C should be a fireable offense.

Our options at 2C are limited. He’s one of them. This is, unfortunately, the position we’ve put ourselves in.

If he doesn’t work out, we have KK or Necas. If none of the three work out, I imagine Jarvis will be slotted as a center eventually.

 

[bleedgreen]

Don’t forget JR can play center and is a righty. I think his skill level will pop out a bit playing with us. No idea if that’ll lead to production but he’ll probably be an obvious second liner based off his puck skill and the rest of the teams lack of it.

 

[Tryamw]

So you're saying we should overreact immediately?

Absolutely.. waiting to overreact is just not the right play that may just be only reacting so overreact today. Else the bugs eat the Starship Troopers. Make sure you are doing your part

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

i'll always smoke hopium when it comes to kk.

after being horrible at wing early on as you said, i thought he looked pretty solid there down the stretch last year.

if necas ever gets a shot at c, having kk on the wing could be helpful. big body, can take draws, could clear space for the dipsy doodling...

I would also be all for letting Necas/Jarvis battle it out for 2C, but would prefer to move koko to 4C and Drury to wing.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Now Morrow out:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837127951017455869

 

[NotOpie]

See I'm not so sure that Rod isn't keeping a close eye on Suzuki especially since he's paired up with Gleb who kindof blew up (offensively at least) at the prospect showcase. Gunler is the one odd-ball on that unit.

There were reports that Gunler was significantly more engaged in the prospects tournament than he's been in the past. I think he views this as his "make or break" year and knows he's got to be a well-rounded player or he won't get a real shot. That said, he's a serious sniper. That Gleb/Suzuki/Gunler line could do some real damage. As I mentioned previously, slotting them against another teams 3rd line would be an offensive mismatch (and potentially a defensive black hole).

Don’t forget JR can play center and is a righty. I think his skill level will pop out a bit playing with us. No idea if that’ll lead to production but he’ll probably be an obvious second liner based off his puck skill and the rest of the teams lack of it.

I always had Roslovic slotted in next to Staal as the lone scorer on that line.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Guentzel said he was “close” to re-signing in Carolina, having enjoyed his brief time there and grown an appreciation for players like Sebastian Aho. There was a changeover at GM in mid-June with Eric Tulsky taking over for Don Waddell, who left for the Blue Jackets job. But the closer you get to free agency, the more tempting it is to see what’s out there. “Maybe it took a little too long,” Guentzel said. “And didn’t come to fruition.”

“We had good conversations with (Tulsky) and (owner) Tom Dundon, who is more involved than most, we had a lot of discussions with him at the draft,” Hankinson said. “The big reason (Guentzel) didn’t end up back in Carolina is that the deal didn’t get done until the draft, and once you get that close to (free agency), all of a sudden teams start making moves and there’s a different buzz than there is in May or June. Now you’re at the end of June, you got that close then a big trade (by Tampa) to free up space. I thought (Guentzel) was signing in Carolina, but it didn’t happen.”

i dont know if DW caused a break in negotiations for a period but it sounds like JG wanted Tampa more and their big trade made it happen.