Going with pairings:
1. Gaudreau - Monahan - (NEAL)
2. Tkachuk - Lindholm - (CZARNIK)
3. Bennett - Backlund - (RYAN)
4. Frolik - Jankowski - (FOO - or '?' see below)
The top two pairings are all 25 or younger. Sets us up for long term continuity and success with those two pairings.
The bottom two pairings have a younger guy with an older two way guy, rather than keeping Backs and Frolik together. This way they help to prop Bennett and Janko up while they find their NHL legs.
I like the idea of Neal on the top line RW, for obvious scoring reasons, but also because it gives the top 3 lines all one guy who is a POS and a pain in the ass to play against (Line 1 Neal, Line 2 Tkachuk, Line 3 Bennett).
I like another young guy like Czarnik or Foo on the 2nd line RW spot. Especially with two heavier players like Tkachuk and Lindholm, it might be beneficial for smaller guys like Czarnik or Foo. They are also strong playmakers and both Czarnik and Foo can shoot the puck. I really feel this would be a spot for Czarnik to shine in.
For the 3rd line RW spot I would put Ryan. He can help our weakest face off guy (Backlund) by taking draws on his strong side and plays a solid two way game.
On the 4th line I see a battle between Foo, Lazar, Brouwer and Mangiapane (Foo if he loses the battle with Czarnik for line 2). If Mangiapane wins the spot Frolik can switch back to playing his off wing and Mangiapane slots on the LW. Of course this is also a spot for any dark horses to win as well, like Hathaway, Dube, Quine, Ehliz, Shinkaruk, Klimchuk or maybe even Robinson.
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