[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I would expect Raymond and Hiller to be shipped out by October. To start the year I think we'll see:

Gaudreau Monahan Hudler
Bennett Backlund Frolik ---> Sam starts the season on the wing
Bouma Colborne Jones
Ferland Stajan Jooris
Bollig/Byron

Giordano Hamilton ----> HUT wet dream
Brodie Engelland ---> had decent chemistry against Vancouver
Russell Wideman ---> best 3rd pairing in the league
Wotherspoon

Ramo
Ortio

As Bennett adapts to the NHL he'll be playing C full time before Christmas, so:

Gaudreau Monahan Frolik
Colborne Bennett Hudler ----> super babysitter Jiri slots in with Sam
Bouma Backlund Jones
Ferland Stajan Jooris
Bollig/Byron

Giordano Brodie ---> too much chemistry to deny for long
Wotherspoon Hamilton ---> pals from WJC, Spoon must be ready soon
Russell Wideman ---> best 3rd pairing in the NHL
Engelland

Ortio ---> he'll be hungry to prove that his cameo last season wasn't a fluke.
Ramo

Obviously none of this factors in David Jones being injured for half the season. Shore, Granlund, Poirier, Gillies, Klimchuk, Hunter Smith, Kulak and Culkin should all have excellent camps and could make things interesting in September.

Longterm, I don't see Raymond, Hiller, Jones, Stajan, Bollig or... Wideman as part of the team. I expect all 6 to be gone by the trade deadline to make room for Giordano and possibly Hudler's contract extensions.

What I love about the forward lineup is that there are 5 or 6 players who can play any forward positions, and can slot in anywhere up and down the lineup. It's so adaptable and versatile. The D is, on paper, up there with the best in the league. I hope this turns out better than when we last had an outstanding D corps and it failed miserably (Phaneuf, Regehr, Bouwmeester, Giordano, Sarich). At least now we have a proper coach so that shouldn't capsize like it did back then.

I'm assuming Shore makes the team out of training camp or is traded.