[pgsieve]

Going into camp, I thought I'd take a look and try my predictions now that things are "more" predictable.

Forwards

First I'll take a look at what I consider to be locks:

Gaudreau................ Monahan ................ __________

________................ Backlund................. Frolick

________................ Bennett................... Brouwer

________................ Stajan..................... __________

LW: 3 Spots available, choices include:


- Shinkaruk
- Tkachuk
- Bouma
- Ferland
- Bollig
- Higgins (PTO)
- Poirier
- Mangipane
- Klimchuk
- Pollack
- Devane (PTO)


RW: 2 Spots available, choices include


- Chaisson
- Priblyl
- Hathaway
- Carroll
- Vey



C: 0 Spots available, choices include

- F. Hamilton
- Jankowski
- Hathaway



Predicted Lineup:

Gaudreau................ Monahan ................ Chaisson

Shinkaruk ................ Backlund................. Frolick

Tkachuk…................. Bennett................... Brouwer

Bouma……................. Stajan..................... Hathaway

Extras: Bollig, Ferland

Explanations:

RW: I think there will still be a lot of juggling this year for the top spot on the right side. Opening day has Chaisson taking the reins because of the new coach connections, but I could easily see Hathaway jumping up, Ferland jumping in (if he finds his game), and even Vey (previous coach connections) getting a call up. The fourth line spot will juggle as the first line spot moves.

LW: This has the most area of interest for me, as we have a lot of serviceable guys without a clear cut winner. I have Shinkaruk and Tkachuk penciled in on 2nd and 3rd line. Shinakruk was the closest outsider for a lock for me given his performance last year. I’ve penciled in Tkachuk based on the fact that I really don’t see him going back for another year of junior. If he was eligible for the AHL, it would be a different story. Brouwer gets to look after the “kids” line with sheltered minutes. The last spot on the left side is a three way tie for me being Bouma, Ferland, and Bollig (to a lesser extent). Bouma gets the spot at this point based on his contract and Ferland gets sent a message that he needs to be better. Bollig is an extra and does whatever it is that Bollig does. It would take Tkachuk to have a pretty bad camp for things to change for me. If he does, Ferland will slot back in

C: I don’t really see a spot unless Stajan is bought out. I’m personally a fan of having Stajan on the fourth line and would prefer to have him as another veteran to lead the kids. That being said, he could be sent down to the AHL and Hathaway can slot over and Ferland can move to the right side.

Wildcard Scenarios:
- Does anyone see a scenario where Bouma is bought out?
- How about Mangipane making the team?
- Will Poirier finally do something?

Defence:

Giordano ……………… Brodie

Hamilton ……………… Jokipakka

_______ ………………. ________

To fill the gaps:


- Wideman
- Wotherspoon
- Engelland
- Anderson
- Culkin
- Kylington
- Morrison
- Kulak
- Kanzig


Predicted Lineup

Giordano ……………… Brodie

Hamilton ……………… Jokipakka

Wideman ………………. Engelland

Extras: Wotherspoon

Explanations:

Boring, boring, boring! As much as I’d like to see Wotherspoon, Anderson, Kylington, or anyone else take Wideman’s spot, I just don’t see us being able to get out of that contract. If Wideman finds his game, it might be a classic Treliving deadline dump, but that would be it. Anderson and Kylington will have to spend another year in the AHL waiting for a spot.

Goalies:

Elliott
Johnson

Explanation:

None.