I feel like it would be a dumb move not signing Bogosian for next year. He provides what we've wanted for many years on the 3rd pair: toughness, steadiness, crease-clearing, mobility and maturity. He's not as old as people think too (30). The only issue, for me, is Liljegren. I love Lily and want him on the team next year. Of course, there are always injuries. Lily could end playing a lot even with Bogosian signed. Thoughts?
I think past next season, Lilly will probably slot into that 2nd pairing RHD role where Justin Holl currently is. I think Dermott is probably gone due to expansion or because of $$ demands. Sandin is probably in the top 4 as well and Mo could potentially be a cap sacrifice by the end of next season. We could have something like the following;
Sandin - Brodie --> very smart pairing with 2 very cerebral defenders. Unlike Mo who constantly puts Brodie in shit positions defensively, Sandin is very much a responsible d-man. He certainly has the offensive instincts and abilities to produce on that top pair. Maybe not as well as Rielly but I think his overall impact might be better than Mo.
Muzzin - Liljegren --> Muzz is the big guy there who can anchor that pairing and protect Lilly. Lilly plays a high-quality 2-way game and isn't prone to running around a ton. It might take some time for them to mesh but if there's any player that can allow Lilly to thrive and grow into a potential top-pairing or very good 2nd pairing D-man, it's probably Muzz.
Bogo - Holl --> I would prefer to have a good stable 2 way guy on that LHD slot but could just as easily see a pair of Bogo and Lilly there or Bogo and Sandin for this next season and then Holl - Bogo or Lilly - Bogo in 2 years time once Mo leaves.
Prospects that have legitimate shots at making the big club:
Kral - Big body, good skater, good offensive instincts, can probably carve out a career as a 3rd pairing guy.
Hollowell - The team seems pretty high on this kid. Smart player, undersized but can survive if sheltered.
Niemela - I think long-term project but if he does pan out for us, we're looking at potentially a guy that can play anywhere in the 2nd or 3rd pairing. Won't be up for another 2-3 years at least though. Might be the eventual replacement for Bogo on that 3rd pair in a few seasons' time.
Overall, I love the fact that we've trended towards getting guys who are more defensively responsible and capable. A guy like Bogo provides us with jam that no one else other than Muzz provides. I love the fact that Brodie, Lilly, Sandin, Niemela are all very high hockey IQ guys who should make up our backend for the next 4-6 years atleast. But we definitely some ruggedness to surround them with. We definitely don't have any big bruising forwards coming through the system so, having a Bogo and his subsequent replacement is huge to the toughness department.