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Originally Posted by Strange Brew
Are you basing that on the recently completed NHL training camp? Because Poirier in particular doesn't seem close. I'm glad he had a strong AHL pre season game but there is a ways to go on him IMO.
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Poirier is a longer bet to make the team, but we have a few veteran contracts set to expire that will give them all a good chance of making the team.
I think you see Elliott re-signed for a few years, but unless Gillies has a horrible year, I doubt you see Johnson brought back.
Bollig is for sure gone this off-season. There's an opening on the roster right there.
I have a feeling Stajan is a buyout candidate this off-season, but at any rate he's not likely to play center much longer, so I imagine it will be Jankowski's spot to lose.
Chiasson is a 26 year old RFA, and unless he gives the team a reason to keep him around, I think you'd see him let go and that spot given to Poirier. And as an aside, unless Ferland has a really solid year, you might say the same thing about his future with the Flames.
Emile wasn't fantastic in camp, no doubt, but he wasn't really terrible either. A good year in the AHL will do a lot for his development and how the club sees him going forward. If he has a bad year, you can say I was wrong, but he did have a great rookie campaign in the AHL that gave reason for hope. He needs to work on a few things, but I could easily see him making the team as a bottom 6 winger next year.
You also have to consider that as we re-sign Bennett, Elliott, or whoever, we will likely need some cheaper entry level players to step up and fill a role on the team. All 3 players will likely be able to do that on a cheap contract, and contribute positively.