Lavoie has to have the best camp of his career this coming season imo, and there really hasn't been a better opportunity for a player like him to make this team in a sheltered role while still playing with some actual talent. If he's ever going to be an NHLer, it starts with this offseason which I assume played a role in him taking the minimum contract, and removing any barriers between himself and a roster spot outside of his on ice performance.
I've been begging for a one shot RH scoring winger with some size to play with Drai or Mcdavid since they got drafted, so I probably have a bit of a bias towards Lavoie but I think if he can really focus on his skating this offseason, he might have the inside edge on Savoie due to Savoie being waiver exempt, and still on his ELC for 3 more seasons. Not to mention Lavoie is more familiar with the org/players, and has 3 full seasons of playing pro hockey in the AHL.
I imagine the opening forward roster looking something like:
Holloway Mcdavid Hyman
Arvidsson Drai Skinner
Nuge Henrique Lavoie/Savoie
Hamblin Janmark Brown
Perry/Ryan
*Kane on IR to start
These two should be salivating at that third line RW spot, as whoever takes it has the inside track to replace Skinner the season after imo which is another reason I think Lavoie should be extra motivated, as I doubt he's going to get much of an NHL look after this contract without either establishing himself as a full timer this year, or having an absolute monster AHL season.
Either way, I'm hoping the competition for the spot brings the best out in both of them, as value contracts are going to become increasingly important once we resign Drai.
