I’m really liking the thought of a Monahan for Laine deal that’s been bounced around by some here; ideally Backlund is selected in the expansion draft versus Gio but I just can’t see that happening and if we hold onto Backlund it makes dealing Monahan easier to stomach. I do think Pelletier has a chance to earn a spot in camp and I’d love to see it, I think he would play well with Dube and Backlund.
Say we trade Monahan at the draft for Laine and Gio is also selected in the expansion draft, at that point the roster would look something like this ahead of UFA:
Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Mangiapane - ??? - Laine
??? - Backlund - Dube
Lucic - ??? - ????
Hanifin - Tanev
Valimaki - Andersson
??? - ???
Markstrom
???
The ??? In the bottom 6 could all be internally filled by the following prospects:
Ruzicka
Phillips
Gawdin
Pelletier
Zary
The ??? In the 2nd slot could either be filled by moving Backlund up and bringing in a UFA 3rd line Center option (bring Ryan back? Sign Getzlaf, Krejci or Stastny?) or we could leave Backlund slotted down and take a swing at a RNH??
Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Mangiapane - RNH - Laine
Pelletier - Backlund - Dube
Lucic - Getzlaf - Gawdin
Phillips
Hanifin - Tanev
Valimaki - Andersson
Kylington - Stone
Mackey
Markstrom
???
Still leaves us with lots of work to do on the backend but that top 6 is lethal if they can put it together and the bottom 6 has balance.
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