[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Baertschi
Gaudreau

Wotherspoon

I want players to get as much ice time as possible. I want to further explain myself with my reasoning from my original post. This what I think each player gets in both the NHL/AHL (or CHL) from the players listed in the OP:


Forwards


Gaudreau: 1st/2nd line minutes, 1st line AHL minutes - Regardless of what league he plays in, he'll get top 6 minutes. Hartley might put him as the 2nd line LW if he plays in the NHL, but I bet that would change throughout the season.


Wolf: 4th line NHL minutes, 2/3rd line AHL minutes - As much as I am excited for the signing, I think he should spend his first year in the AHL, just so we can get a good idea of what we've got.


Baertschi: 2nd/3rd line NHL minutes, 1st/2nd line AHL minutes - Baertschi may have had a rough year, but he is still a .5 PPG player in the NHL. I think if he played 3rd line minutes (maybe 2nd line minutes too), he can still put up that .5 PPG. Had great chemistry with Monahan, I'd love to see Sven and Sean reunite, along with Joe as well.


Granlund: 3rd line NHL minutes, 1st/2nd line AHL minutes - While I do agree that Granlund looked a lot better than Sven and deserves it more, I'd rather give Granlund top line minutes in the AHL rather than 3rd line minutes in the NHL.


Bennett: 2nd/3rd line NHL minutes, 1st line OHL minutes - I think Sam B. is capable of getting that 9 game tryout in the NHL, but I think management will still want him to further his development in the OHL where he'd get top line minutes. The future is bright for Sam, there's no need for him to be rushed.


Poirier: 3rd line NHL minutes, 1st line AHL minutes - I wouldn't mind seeing a little bit of Poirier in the AHL, but I'd rather him get the top line AHL minutes. He looked very comfortable out there on AHL ice last year, lets see how he can do with a full year on his belt.



Reinhart - 3rd/4th line NHL minutes, 1st/2nd line AHL minutes - Max, like Granlund, had a great year in the AHL. He too should get top minutes in the AHL to further his development.



Ferland - 4th line NHL minutes, 2nd/3rd/4th line AHL minutes - Had a bad injury, but he's perfectly capable of bouncing back.



Knight - 4th line NHL minutes, 2nd/3rd AHL minutes - I liked what I saw from Knight, he's pretty good at faceoffs, not too noticeable but doesn't make that many mistakes. He too needs more minutes to further development, so I'd put him back in the NHL.


Arnold - 4th line NHL minutes, 2nd/3rd AHL minutes - Arnold proved that he doesn't need Johnny. He played really well in his NHL debut without Johnny, and got pretty comfortable after his first few shifts. Hasn't played an AHL game yet, but I guarantee he will next year, especially with the log jam at centers in both leagues. He'll get more playing time with the Baby Flames.




Defense

Wotherspoon: 4/5/6 NHL minutes, 1/2 AHL minutes - I want Tyler getting top pairing minutes in Adirondack and should/will be the first call up.

Sieloff: 6/7 NHL minutes, 3/4/5 AHL minutes - Curious to see how Sieloff can do with all of the unfortunate events happening to him. Has high upsides on having an NHL career, I can see him as a #4 for Adirondack.


Cundari: 5/6/7 NHL minutes, 2/3/4 AHL minutes - Probably the player I'd slot behind Wotherspoon as the most NHL ready defenseman. He's been moved around a lot, but everywhere he's played he's played good enough to never be considered bad.


Kulak: 6/7 NHL minutes, 1/2/3 AHL minutes - Kulak looks like the one to impress everyone, he had a great training camp and looks like another late gem. Looking to see great things from him in the AHL.


Ramage: 6/7 NHL minutes, 5/6 AHL minutes - Wasn't in the AHL last year, but I hope that he can find his groove again.


Kanzig: 6/7 NHL minutes, 4/5/6 AHL minutes - Imo, he had better upside than Breen and looks way better defensively, lets see how he can do against players in a better league.


My original picks: Gaudreau, Baertschi, and Wotherspoon.



If there is only one rookie spot in the NHL, it goes to Gaudreau. He's too difficult to send to the AHL when he's already showed how good he is in both the NCAA, the 1 NHL game, and the development camp. Wherever he goes, he'll be successful.


Sven deserves a roster spot too, he's proven himself a little more than Granlund. Imo, Granlund could use another year in the AHL with top line minutes. No need to rush him. Sven worked on his 200ft game, it's better and I want to see how it translates on the NHL ice. Sending him to the AHL was a wake up call, I think he'll come back fired up.


Wotherspoon needs top minutes. If we don't sign a 6/7 reclamation project defenseman (as Treliving stated), I think Cundari played good enough to take on that role as that 6/7 guy. He's improved little by little every year. Yes, I picked Wotherspoon, but Cundari looks more likely to take the role as the 6/7.