Draisaitl- McDavid- NOT CHIASSON
Benson- RNH- Neal
Khaira- Sheahan- Granlund
Nygard- Marody- Archibald
- MaximumBone

Chiasson has to be somewhere. As does Kassian. They're not just gonna both fall completely off the depth chart.

IMO it starts with Kass on line 1. Chiasson line 3?

Dr. - CMJ - Kass
Gagner - RNH - Neal
Chiasson - Sheahan - Granlund
Nygard - Khaira - Archibald

Haas/Benson as the extras. Cooper starts in Bako.
Klef-Larsson
Nurse - ???
Russell - Benning

Not sure who gets the 4 spot on d. Could be Legs, could be EvanB, could be Bear, could be a number of guys.
Koskinen and Smith rotate amongst who last won.

Its not ideal, but its what i see happening game 1 depending on injuries.

Chiasson has to be somewhere. As does Kassian. They're not just gonna both fall completely off the depth chart.

IMO it starts with Kass on line 1. Chiasson line 3?

Dr. - CMJ - Kass
Gagner - RNH - Neal
Chiasson - Sheahan - Granlund
Nygard - Khaira - Archibald

Haas/Benson as the extras. Cooper starts in Bako.
- wreckage

I never said Kassian wouldn't get the spot; my point was it didn't matter who was there aside from it not being Chiasson as he hurts the McDuo's offense at 5-on-5. Chiasson will more than likely have a spot on the shutdown line and I neglected to represent that on my first post, but I had intended for him to be fighting with Granlund and Archibald for a spot.

However, I think most coaches prefer better skaters wherever possible and am not convinced he'll retain his spot on the 1st PP unit. Since none of his other skills stand out in any way (not a great PKer, not good 5-on-5, not a strong skater) then I can see a clear path for him to drop out of the lineup.

Gagner being up there wouldn't leave me with any confidence at all in that 2nd line. Also not keen on Benson as an extra; better Jurco, Cave or Currie for that role and for Benson to keep dominating.

Klef-Larsson
Nurse - ???
Russell - Benning

Not sure who gets the 4 spot on d. Could be Legs, could be EvanB, could be Bear, could be a number of guys.
Koskinen and Smith rotate amongst who last won.

Its not ideal, but its what i see happening game 1 depending on injuries.
- wreckage

As for the D corps, early estimates have Playfair seeming interested in reuniting Nurse- Larsson as the shutdown pairing and having Klefbom anchor the 2nd pairing. As Klef and Benning's numbers together have been surprisingly strong, it seems reasonable to predict Benning will get a shot at that spot while maybe seeing his TOI cut back in other disciplines to keep him fresher.

Based off past results, I'd be keen on going the 7D route and having D 5 thru playing significant roles on special teams (Persson on the PP, Lagesson and Russell on the PK) with Russell and Persson occasionally subbing-in on the 2nd pairing depending on deployment and necessity.

Nurse- Larsson
Klefbom- Benning
Lagesson- Persson
Russell

PP Dmen = Nurse 1st unit, Klefbom & Persson 2nd unit
PK Dmen = Larsson, Klefbom, Nurse, Russell and Lagesson
4-on-4 Dmen = Nurse, Larsson, Klefbom and Persson
Off. Zone faceoff D priority = Persson, Klefbom, Nurse and Larsson
Def. Zone faceoff D priority = Larsson, Klefbom, Lagesson and Russell

Ideally, this opens up an extra 5-on-5 shift here or there for McDavid, Draisaitl and Nuge while lessening the stamina burden on Russell, Benning and the incoming rookies. The aim would be to get the minutes down affording them the ability to push themselves harder during their lower minutes. While Nurse, Larsson and Klefbom would likely see similar TOI distributions as last year, the rest would likely sit somewhere around this:

Nurse: EV ~18mins, PP ~2mins PK ~2mins
Larsson: EV ~18mins, PK ~3mins
Klefbom: EV ~18mins, PP ~2mins, PK ~1mins
Benning: EV ~15mins
Lagesson: EV ~12mins, PK ~3mins
Russell: EV ~10 mins, PK ~2mins
Persson: EV ~9mins, PP ~2mins

you know what?

I'm kind of liking how this is shaping up!

(most likely pre-season high expectations...but whatever, I'm going with it.)

Alternatively:

Best scoring duo in the league on the 1st
A quality 2C, quality prospect and bounceback candidate on the 2nd
A shutdown line featuring two top-50 PKers (by results) and Granlund

I'm not one to view things optimistically but I refuse to accept the absolute worst interpretation, as well.
- MaximumBone

Also, "a quality 2C" is severely understating what RNH brings. Personally, I think he's one of the best 2Cs in the league.

Drink it!!!
- Ihatebrianburke

This can not be reiterated enough.

Also, "a quality 2C" is severely understating what RNH brings. Personally, I think he's one of the best 2Cs in the league.
- JLO961

In your eyes, what defines him as one of the best 2Cs in the league? I'm not trying to poop on the guy; he's a very valuable player and brings a lot to the team, but I fail to see how describing him as a quality 2C isn't a fair characterization of him.

For sake of visualizing, here are all the 2Cs in the league and I've put an asterisk next to all who are better than or comparable to Nuge:

ANA- Henrique
ARI- Stepan/Dvorak
BOS- Krejci*
BUF- Mittlestadt
CAR- Staal (close, but ind. offense limits appeal)
CBS- Jenner
CGY- Backlund
CHI- Strome (given another year, might make it 13)
COL- Kadri*
DAL- Pavelski*
DET- Nielsen
EDM- Nuge
FLA- Trocheck*
LA- Carter
MIN- Koivu/Donato(?)
MON- Danault
NJ- Hughes (might also make it 13 by next summer)
NSH- Duchene*
NYI- Nelson
NYR- Chytil
OTT- White/Tierney
PHI- Hayes
PIT- Malkin*
SJ- Hertl*
STL- Schenn* (I'm receptive to argumentation against his inclusion)
TB- Point/Stamkos*
TOR- Matthews*
VAN- Horvat*
VGS- Karlsson
WPG- Little
WSH- Backstrom*

That's 12 other 2Cs that I rate as either better than or close to Nuge, so I stand by my listing him as a quality 2C.

In your eyes, what defines him as one of the best 2Cs in the league? I'm not trying to poop on the guy; he's a very valuable player and brings a lot to the team, but I fail to see how describing him as a quality 2C isn't a fair characterization of him.

For sake of visualizing, here are all the 2Cs in the league and I've put an asterisk next to all who are better than or comparable to Nuge:

ANA- Henrique
ARI- Stepan/Dvorak
BOS- Krejci*
BUF- Mittlestadt
CAR- Staal (close, but ind. offense limits appeal)
CBS- Jenner
CGY- Backlund
CHI- Strome (given another year, might make it 13)
COL- Kadri*
DAL- Pavelski*
DET- Nielsen
EDM- Nuge
FLA- Trocheck*
LA- Carter
MIN- Koivu/Donato(?)
MON- Danault
NJ- Hughes (might also make it 13 by next summer)
NSH- Duchene*
NYI- Nelson
NYR- Chytil
OTT- White/Tierney
PHI- Hayes
PIT- Malkin*
SJ- Hertl*
STL- Schenn* (I'm receptive to argumentation against his inclusion)
TB- Point/Stamkos*
TOR- Matthews*
VAN- Horvat*
VGS- Karlsson
WPG- Little
WSH- Backstrom*

That's 12 other 2Cs that I rate as either better than or close to Nuge, so I stand by my listing him as a quality 2C.
- MaximumBone

This seems pretty fair.

Chiasson has to be somewhere. As does Kassian. They're not just gonna both fall completely off the depth chart.

IMO it starts with Kass on line 1. Chiasson line 3?

Dr. - CMJ - Kass
Gagner - RNH - Neal
Chiasson - Sheahan - Granlund
Nygard - Khaira - Archibald

Haas/Benson as the extras. Cooper starts in Bako.
Klef-Larsson
Nurse - ???
Russell - Benning

Not sure who gets the 4 spot on d. Could be Legs, could be EvanB, could be Bear, could be a number of guys.
Koskinen and Smith rotate amongst who last won.

Its not ideal, but its what i see happening game 1 depending on injuries.
- wreckage

Do some research and get a clue...did you make this all up on the short bus ride...eating your Clorox tidepods...

he has 22 goals in his last 243 NHL games and is a negative possession player.

some of that is related to starting over 60% of his shifts in the D zone, but still...
- BINGO!

You guys signed Gardiner which mean Pulju for Faulk is happening

Do some research and get a clue...did you make this all up on the short bus ride...eating your Clorox tidepods...
- oil90

You guys signed Gardiner which mean Pulju for Faulk is happening
- Reveen.

Something for Faulk, probably.

We're over the cap now.

That or Pulju for Brock McGinn and Julien Gauthier.

This seems pretty fair.
- BINGO!

Congrats on landing Gardiner at a reasonable price.

Your defensive corps looks insane!

Slavin-Hamilton
Gardiner-Pesce
Fleury-TVR/Faulk

Damn........ mind giving us TVR in exchange for Pulj?

Something for Faulk, probably.

We're over the cap now.

That or Pulju for Brock McGinn and Julien Gauthier.
- BINGO!

Wouldn't mind a Pulj for TVR exchange?

Congrats on landing Gardiner at a reasonable price.

Your defensive corps looks insane!

Slavin-Hamilton
Gardiner-Pesce
Fleury-TVR/Faulk

Damn........ mind giving us TVR in exchange for Pulj?
- EdmHockeyMan

Done!

Something for Faulk, probably.

We're over the cap now.

That or Pulju for Brock McGinn and Julien Gauthier.
- BINGO!

not sure how i feel about that

Done!
- BINGO!

Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-TVR
Persson/Lagesson-Benning
Russell

That looks actually decent! I'm waging on TVR excelling in a top 4 role. Given his past performances and what his capabilities are, there aren't any concerning reasons to think otherwise.

Furthermore, I'd try to move out Russell if this was the case. Perhaps Calgary might be interested? A more finalized deal would also see a conditional clause dropped in based on whether TVR resigns with us or not.

Done!
- BINGO!

I dont get why they're keen to give Pulju away for a 3rd pairing dman

Something for Faulk, probably.

We're over the cap now.

That or Pulju for Brock McGinn and Julien Gauthier.
- BINGO!

I would definitely consider that

EDIT: On second thought, the 2mil cap hit is too high for me to go thru with it.

I dont get why they're keen to give Pulju away for a 3rd pairing dman
- Reveen.

Lol, Bingo has TVR sitting in the press box right now. Can't imagine why he would jump at that offer.

Lol, Bingo has TVR sitting in the press box right now. Can't imagine why he would jump at that offer.
- Beergu

I know why

I dont get why they're keen to give Pulju away for a 3rd pairing dman
- Reveen.

I don't really see TVR as just a 3rd pairing defender. He is an excellent #5, but I think that if he is put in a role as a top 4 alongside Klefbom, he would really excel as well. Nurse-Larsson would face the opposition's top line and Klefbom-TVR would then come out right after. TVR would be the defensive backbone for that pairing, giving Klefbom the opportunity to roam about and help transition the puck offensively.

I guess I just think that TVR is underrated.

I don't really see TVR as just a 3rd pairing defender. He is an excellent #5, but I think that if he is put in a role as a top 4 alongside Klefbom, he would really excel as well. Nurse-Larsson would face the opposition's top line and Klefbom-TVR would then come out right after. TVR would be the defensive backbone for that pairing, giving Klefbom the opportunity to roam about and help transition the puck offensively.

I guess I just think that TVR is underrated.
- EdmHockeyMan

I'd be going Faulk over TVR

Nurse-Larsson
Klefbom-TVR
Persson/Lagesson-Benning
Russell

That looks actually decent! I'm waging on TVR excelling in a top 4 role. Given his past performances and what his capabilities are, there aren't any concerning reasons to think otherwise.

Furthermore, I'd try to move out Russell if this was the case. Perhaps Calgary might be interested? A more finalized deal would also see a conditional clause dropped in based on whether TVR resigns with us or not.
- EdmHockeyMan

Unless that same sentiment applies to Benning, I'd suggest there ARE reasons to think otherwise. First off, he plays a clearly defined 3rd sheltered role to the tune of only 27.9% of his TOI against top opposition. The general low end cut-off for someone taking the fair share of a defense by committee is ~31%. Beyond that, his offensive contributions are negligible, though I understand your point would be to keep him focused on the defensive end.

My main point is Benning is as good (or better) of an option for that spot next to Klefbom so, if you have concerns about Benning in that role, you should have more about TVR. Neither are a safe bet at covering the bet in that spot over a full season, but Benning at least has positive results alongside Klefbom.

The best argument for adding TVR would be to add a veteran RD to help acclimate the LD rookies that'll be breaking. As he- like Benning- has a history of controlling goal share numbers on a sheltered 3rd pairing, the team would benefit having him there while Benning is pushed into the 2RD role.

All three pairings would have a player with a track record of winning the goal share battle in that same position.

Nurse- Larsson (2017-18, they combined for strong numbers)
Klefbom- Benning (results together indicate positive impact in most ways)
Legs/Jones- TVR (TVR has excelled as a sheltered 3RD)
Russell (the press box likely helps him soften his no-trade list)

While that's a valid argument, I think it undervalues what we should aim to get out of a Puljujarvi trade.

I'd be going Faulk over TVR
- Reveen.

Faulk is too expensive for you, though, and he has a limited NTC. What are the odds Edmonton makes the cut?