Quote:
Originally Posted by tpc77
I really don't expect Mac to be back this year.
I like him as a player, but he will likely want too much, and if he re-signs, there isn't an open spot for competition in camp.
Our top 9 would be more or less set without an opportunity to Frattin etc to get in the lineup.
I think KAdri fill Mac's role which opens a spot on the the 3rd line for someone to make the team out of camp.
If Lombardi is ready, we could argue our top 9 is set without MAcarthur.
Can Lombardi play wing? Man, Kulemin - Grabo - Lombardi is some serious speed that the opposition would have to deal with!
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I think the thing that we all have to remember is that we need as much talent as possible to make the playoffs this year.
Burke and co. don't have the time or patience to have multiple rookies given spots before training camp even starts and sit through their struggles all year.
Having a rookie in our top 6, where we have only one all-star as it is, wont get us into the playoffs. Once guys like Kulemin, Grabovski and Macarthur prove that they're the real deal, then we can afford to have rookies with growing pains in our lineup as we know that we have established players who can pick up the slack.
I think Kadri and Frattin will be in competition for one spot out of camp. And its on the 3rd line wing. Whoever gets sent down will be the first call up, and given the fact that injuries are going to be quite common, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the odd man out still gets 20-30 games in the NHL this year.