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Old 08-24-2024, 01:48 PM   #1488
Calgary4LIfe
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I think line combos are incredibly hard to figure out right now because there are simply too may bodies. A few things to build around that we know (but aren't set in stone):


1) Mantha was brought in specifically to help get Huberdeau going, so I imagine they get put together on the same line at the start of the season at least.
2) Conroy spoke about both Zary and Pospisil being centres - maybe they alternate? Who knows.
3) Pelletier requires waivers. I can't see Conroy risking sending him through waivers. He either gets traded, or he stays on the team.


Trying to put lines together from this is difficult. It is probably a good bet to start with pairings:


X - Kadri - Kuzmenko
Huberdeau - X - Mantha
X - Backlund - Coleman
Lomberg - X - X


Find homes for: Shrangovich, Zary, Pospisil, Pelletier as players you can't waive and lose for nothing. Add in Coronato who I would bet doesn't get sent down this season. Add Klapka on the 4th line probably. Still have pieces left over in Rooney, Dueher and Hunt (and, if signed, Schwindt).



The hardest question to answer is which player takes the remaining top 9 centre spot between Huberdeau and Mantha. I think it is a battle between Zary and Sharangovich. The loser of that battle goes and plays top-line LW alongside Kadri and Kuzmenko. However, if Zary loses that battle, maybe you put Pospisil up next to Kadri who looked good there already? Move Zary down to the LW spot alongside Backlund. However, isn't that an ideal spot to get Coronato/Pelletier into the lineup? Better there than on the 4th line, right?


Meritocracy can take a backseat this year. You aren't going to risk losing Pelletier on waivers when you don't know what he will be a couple of years from now, when you are certain that guys like Rooney, Schwindt, Hunt and Dueher will not be here. That would be beyond silly and shortsighted.



Just too many bodies, but that's probably a good thing this year as that means more players traded. You still need to make further room next season as well for the new batch being drafted or coming up through the system.


Defence is probably even more competitive. Substitute Pelletier's name for Solovyov's, and you find a way to put him on the team meritocracy be damned. It doesn't matter if Grushnikov shines a bit brighter in the preseason, you send him down rather than lose Solovyov for nothing, unless you are reasonably sure that he is not in your long-term plans anyway. The only difference on defence is that there are more bodies that will need some NHL time to help their development along - Poirier, Grushnikov, Kuznetsov and probably Jurmo too. Maybe Morin surprises, though he probably gets sent back down. Brzustewicz may earn some NHL time too, but he has never played pro before, unlike the previously mentioned defencemen.


There will be more room by the trade deadline. From now until then, I do not envy Huska's job.
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