Ideally I'd like to see Backlund slotted as the 3C, but the guy finished last season with 28 points in 28 games. He's hit or miss, but when he's scoring he definitely puts up top 6 numbers, while being very strong defensively.
I mentioned earlier that Mangiapane had 17 points in his last 19 games after being put in the top 6 with Backlund and Tkachuk.
So while I'd like to see an upgrade on Backs as the 2C, that's not realistic at this point, so for now I am OK with:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Backlund - Mangiapane
...as the top 6. I don't know if they can elevate their play in the playoffs, but they will be just fine in the regular season IMO, enough to get the team to the dance anyways. You can always upgrade this at the deadline too if the team is tracking to a playoff spot.
The bottom 6 is where it gets dicey as hell for me.
Lucic - Bennett - Dube should be an alright 3rd line if they play the way they did in the playoffs, but that remains to be seen, especially with Bennett who hasn't figured it out in the regular season yet. If he does, the 3rd line should be OK, especially if Dube takes a step. Ideally I'd like to see a right shot added here, and then slot Dube to LW and in turn push Lucic to the 4th line. This is where a guy like Leivo would come in handy IMO.
Then you'd have Lucic - Ryan - Youngster/PTO for the 4th line. The best young guy out of Gawdin, Phillips, Pelletier, Zavgorodny, Philp, Ruzicka, Zary, Pospisil, Tuulola or any PTO vet they bring in, maybe a Brett Ritchie for example.
I guess I'm kind of talking myself into being OK with the forwards for now as long as they can add one right shot top 9 option, see how the season goes and maybe look to add at the deadline.
I am however also OK with trading Hanifin for a sweet top 6 forward and then signing a vet left shot D to cushion and shelter Valimaki in the 4/5 slot. A Dman like Mueller, Kulikov, Del Zotto, Hutton or even Chara for example, if he'd come to Calgary.
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