SAFE SPOTS ON FORWARD: Curtis Glencross (1st/2nd line), Jiri Hudler (1st/2nd line), Mikael Backlund (1st line), David Jones (anywhere), Joe Colborne (top 9), Sean Monahan (2nd line), Brian McGrattan (4th line), Lance Bouma (4th line), Matt Stajan (2nd/3rd line), Paul Byron (anywhere), Mason Raymond (top 9), Brandon Bollig (4th line), Setoguchi (anywhere, top6 to start)
13/14 spots
PLAYERS IN CONSIDERATION (FORWARD): Corban Knight, Max Reinhart, Sven Baertschi, Johnny Gaudreau, Bill Arnold, Bryce Van Brabant, David Wolf, Sam Bennett, Granlund
I think you, Monahan23, were close. You missed Granlund in your list of possibles and I think he plays a fair amount of games this year. I'd pick him ahead of Sven in fact.
I think we should look at who has played together as pairings and make sense for roles:
Raymond- Backlund-Hudler (Most likely top line players)
OPEN-Monahan-Colborne (Setoguchi gets first shot but if out played then rookie gets a shot)
Glencross-Stajan-Jones/Bouma (defensive responsible line)
Byron-Bouma (4th liners - Bollig, McGrattan, etc will rotate)
If Jones doesn't have his game together then he gets pressboxed same as last year. That third line has potential to put up a few goals while being responsible and taking the hard matchups.
If Setoguchi doesn't have his game then he drops to the 4th line and a rookie gets a shot with Monahan-Colborne.
For people complaining about rookies not getting a shot. Wait for the inevitable injuries and trades. I'd expect 20-30 games for whoever performs well at the start of the year amongst Jonny, Sven, and Granlund. I think Reinhart makes the team to start the year as the most ready prospect and one who is a bottom 6 player max so doesn't have as much to work on.
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