Tigers not flying under the radar I guess.
Might get off to slower start than expected with all the bodies at NHL camps (12 guys gone right now), but hopefully be loaded back up sooner rather than later.
The Tigers have 6 NHL drafted guys plus Gavin McKenna, who is the favorite for 1st overall in 2026. They also have three overage forwards who could be point per game or better. On paper, their 9th forward on the depth chart had 28 goals last year (Shane Smith). It's an embarrassment of riches, and they still have to get games in for 16yo's like the Ruck twins, Schafer Gordon Caroll, and they also have 17yo's who played full time last year like McCann and Harsanyi.
Should mention that there are rumors Lindstrom won't be playing for a while as the Jackets want to ramp him up slowly after his back injury last season.
After last season ended the Tigers lost three OA dmen, so D was a question mark going into this season until they shrewdly added a couple 18yo Finn Dmen in the import draft who were both just drafted to the NHL. They were able to get both to come over too. They also added two more 18yo Dmen with a good amount of WHL experience by trading for Woo from Wenatchee and Pickford from Seattle. Was a tidy bit of business by Desjardins and now the D is not only set up to compete this year, but next year as well when they hope to be hosting the Memorial Cup.
When healthy:
McKenna (16) - Weisblatt (20) - Ritchie (18)(MIN)
Basha (18)(CGY) - Lindstrom (18)(CLB) - Boehm (20)
Smith (19) - St. Martin (19)(FLA) - Ward (20)
Harsanyi (17) - McCann (17) - Pacheco (19)
Ruck (16) - Ruck (16) - SGC (16)
Vaisanen (18)(UTA) - Van Mulligan (19)
Muhonen (18)(DAL) - Woo (18)
Corbet (18) - Pickford (18)
Paranych (17) - Kachkowski (17)
Zahara (19)
McCallum (18)
Switzer (17)
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