1.) You can add 1 Free agent, try to add one you think might truly sign here.
2.) You can add the 2012 # 7 overall pick, Don't make it a unrealistic pick, such as Yakupov. (Dumba, Forsberg, Rielly, Reihnart, Trouba, Etc....all fair game.
3.) You can factor in a trade, if you see fit and it's fair. Not a Clutterbuck for Stamkos type deal.
Suter-Gilbert
Scandella-Spurgeron
Brodin-Dumba (imo that would be a great bottom pairing)
Falk/Prosser/Stoner
Backstrom (re-signed to a reasonable contract)
Hackett
NSH/NJD are eliminated in the first round, parise & Suter decide to bring their talents back to their hometown team and are key pieces to our playoff team.
Players like phillips/Larsson/Zucker/bulmer/clutterbuck can all be changed up on lines depending on how they are playing which is great cause that keeps a constant battle of the prospects/vets to perform and be rewareded for it.
Backstrom will resign to a significantly lower contract to stay in the city he loves and be around fellow finish players.
id say based off that lineup if suter / parise were to both come here the only real piece that is missing would be a dman who is strong and physical / can and likes to shoot the puck. but maybe our pick this year / brodin / scandella become that piece. also maybe a clear cut off of exp. after suter-gilbert.
I think it's unlikely more rookies than Granlund, Brodin, and one of Larsson/Bulmer makes the roster next year, and I don't think we'd go into a season with more than 4 sophomores and 3 rookies on the roster. In this, Clutterbuck was traded for picks or prospects because I don't believe he's a 4th liner like a number of people around here, and I didn't want to push anyone up the lineup to fit him in. Edit to add - Brodin-Rielly used as a second pairing, coupling a sophomore and rookie can be a risk, but we saw how Scandella-Spurgeon worked well. Keeping them as second pairing, even though they're likely the better players because they need to be eased into the game.
That is one soft defense. I also think Coyle works better on the wing than in center.
I don't know why people keep calling Gilbert and Scandella soft. No, there's no pylon tough guy, or big hit seeking Kronwall in it, but it's not like it's any worse than we were to start this year (assuming bad Falk showed up). Anyway, I might swap Scandella and Brodin's spots to get Rielly by a more physical, but still defensively responsible guy.
As for Coyle, I think he'll be used at center unless he shows he can't do it. I haven't seen anything that implies he won't be able to, and I'm convinced Granlund will be a wing, so if we don't draft/obtain a player to beat Coyle out as center, it'll be his position to lose.
Some guys I wanted to keep together: Heatley/Koivu/Granlund, Phillips/Coyle, Brodin/Dumba. Aside from our top line, I had a lot of trouble deciding lines 2-4. A lot depends on whether Lats/PMB will ever be the same. Also, I think the rookies will all show whether they're capable of handling the NHL when they get here. Some will excel, while others fail. I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of fluctuating lines.
I feel like Bulmer and Phillips could be swapped given their talent levels, but I think chemistry will factor into our line combinations.
FINALLY, with reduced minutes, Powe will finally be able to become that PK specialist he was brought in to be.
I also think we will bring in a free-agent defenseman... Just couldn't decide who. Was possibly thinking Carle.
Just realized that I forgot Setoguchi and Clutterbuck. There's not enough room for all of our prospects/roster players. We'll have to get rid of a couple guys. Now I'm sad.
I know I'm not playing the game, but I don't see Parise or Suter coming via FA. I do think trades will have to be made to fill those spots, and allow a decent number of prospects to continue to develop and push for spots.
In Houston with Phillips. As I said, 4 sophomores and 3 rookies is probably too many. Those two are the ones I see most likely to not win a spot in camp.
Don't think whoever we draft this year will be ready yet and until we let go of guys like Heatley and Clutter I don't see there being enough room for Phillips, Zucker, etc.
