[keenan87]

Originally Posted by BigErnSalute_16

Is the first example assuming we trade Hanifin for nothing? Obviously its a better lineup on offence but the defence is kinda scary when you are counting on a young guy with 24 NHL games who just missed an entire season due to injury to play consistent top four.

In the first scenario I'd rather see Forbort signed decently cheap to play with Gio even if its his off side, let Brodie move on, keep Hanifin
(because it didn't seem like we got anything for him anyways) then role with this.

Gaudreau (6.75) - Monahan (6.375) - Lindholm (4.85)
Mangiapane (2) - Backlund (5.35) - Tkachuk (7)
Hall (8) - Bennett (2.55) - Dube (.778)
Lucic (5.25) - Ryan (3.125) - Phillips (.733)
13th forward

Giordano (6.75) - Forbort (2.55)
Hanifin (4.95) - Andersson (4.55)
Valiamki (.894) - Kylington (.800)
7th defenceman


Rittich (2.75)
Holtby (2.75) (or Talbot again)

That cap should be pretty close to working out

Or we can trade Gaudreau and keep Brodie for Gio's partner with something like this:

Hall (8) - Monahan (6.375) - Lindholm (4.85)
Mangiapane (2) - Backlund (5.35) - Tkachuk (7)
Dube (.778) - Bennett (2.55) - Reinhart (5.35)
Lucic (5.25) - Ryan (3.125) - Cozens (.900 ish)
13th forward

Giordano (6.75) - Brodie (4.55)
Hanifin (4.95) - Andersson (4.55)
Valiamki (.894) - Kylington (.800)
7th defenceman

This keeps us competitve, with maybe even a better offence while giving Hanifin, Andersson, Valimaki, Kylington, Bennett, Dube, Cozens the shelter they need but also the necessary room to grow.

Also by giving Bennett Dube and Reinhart a "run wild" type of line for them to gain confidence and letting Cozens work with Ryan that gives us essentially 4 potential guys who might be able to bump Backlund down in the next couple years if he loses a step.

Lmao. Hall is not signing here to play on the third line with plugs like Bennett.