[Cali Panthers Fan]

I would consider Glencross to be a key transition veteran in this process, similar to Hudler. They may not be around when this team starts competing for a cup, but they are essential to play the tough minutes and provide veteran mentorship. I am torn on whether or not to resign Glencross because our left wing is so log jammed. Is he a true top line winger? Probably 2nd/3rd liner. I would be happy to give him a 2 or 3 year deal (without a NTC) at $5 million. We have the cap to use for those years without a lot of key RFAs coming up any time soon.

Jones is a guy that will likely play out his contract, and maybe get moved at next year's trade deadline. There's a couple reasons for this: 1) We have so few natural RWers in the organization, and especially few players with his size and style of game, 2) his contract is likely prohibitive for many teams to take it on, and 3) he's often injured, so it doesn't prohibit a prospect who is nearly NHL ready getting some games at the NHL to test themselves (Poirier).

The OP mentions our depth chart, but you have to remember that a lot of those guys won't ever become NHL regulars. The following list is where I think each of those prospects eventually plays in the NHL:

Gaudreau-Bennett-X
Granlund/Baertschi(big "if" on Baertschi)-X-Poirier
Klimchuk/Ferland-Arnold/Jooris-X
Hanowski/Agostino-Knight-Smith/Carroll

I think that top line RW gets filled by Hudler unless we find a better option through free agency.

Obviously the 2nd line center will be filled by Monahan.

You can slot Jones in that 3rd line slot until we find a suitable prospect or UFA replacement.

But looking at those left wingers (I think Granlund will eventually be moved to the wing) is Glencross better than any of them long term? I think Klimchuk is at least 2 years away after this season from being a regular, not that he's guaranteed to be an NHLer just yet. Bouma has the 4th line left wing sewn up for awhile. I think you can sign Glencross to a 2 year deal and put him on that 3rd line until Klimchuk is NHL ready. The problem then becomes, would Glencross stay on such a short term deal?

What it boils down to is the old adage: If you have time to make a decision, use it. I would like to revisit this conversation near the trade deadline, but for now they're both valuable pieces to the team and worth keeping around. If we end up losing Glencross to UFA, so be it. He doesn't owe us anything at this point.