Fitting the Pieces: What Lineup Does Our Roster Make?

[Split98]

Been thinking a lot about this lately, especially as we have experienced being one of the hottest and one of the coldest teams in quick succession.

So the thought is, what do we actually have here in the long term? I'm curious where people see what we have fitting in for us to be a championship team.

I will probably edit this 427 times as I realize my oversights, but here's my hat in the ring:

Gaudreau - Bennett - Poirier
Klimchuk - Monahan - Hudler
*blank* - Backlund - Colborne
Ferland - Bouma - Jooris

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - *blank*
Sieloff - *blank*

There are players I love not in the roster, for sure. But I'm just trying to find spots where players make the most sense. The 4th line center, for example, isn't just simply the 4th best option the team has.

Curious as to where people see our holes going forward and what vets people don't see a future with. Also wondering what prospects we don't see sticking around.

Players I'm having trouble with:
Raymond
Wotherspoon
Baertschi
Smith
Jooris
Wideman
Jankowski
Granlund

And then we have to ask (at risk of Oiler-level overvaluing something special), does that roster have championship potential?

[flylock shox]

I think Jooris and Spoon could fill in a couple of your blank spots.

In all likelihood, a young defenceman will be added to fill in another blank at the expense of someone on your extras list (or possibly Backlund, I would speculate).

Add a couple of UFA signings and you're there.

How good will it be? Pretty good I think. But another player at Bennett's likely level - but probably a winger - would make a big difference.

Taylor Hall maybe?

[ThatsRobbery]

Well depending on development and trades I would go

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Sven-Bennett-Poirer
Ferland-Granlund-Colborne
Bouma-Backlund-Jooris

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Wotherspoon
Culkin-Sieloff

Hiller
Ortio

This is making a lot of assumptions and with no new free agent signings/trades etc. In 2-3 years it is a possible championship team in my opinion. 4 lines that can score, 2 great defensive lines, a great top pairing defense.

However they are some improvements to be made I think to be a real threat but there are some great piece there.

[Split98]

I definitely don't like not having Jooris and Wotherspoon in the lineup, but can they play the open positions?

I don't want to force left shooting D on the right just to have them there, so I just consider those blanks when building or ideal lineups going forward.

And are guys like Backlund and Jooris going to make good 4th liners? I don't love having Stajan there now and would really like to see someone on that 4th line RW that actually pays RW well

[CalgaryFan1988]

Depending what you call long term, in 2 seasons from now I see something like this

Gaudreau - Monahan - UFA (ROR/Voracek)
Baertschi - Bennett - (Backlund/Raymond traded for RW)
Klimchuk - Granlund - Poirier
Ferland - Bouma - Jooris

Brodie - UFA (Johnson/Seabrook)
Giordano - '15 1st round pick
Wotherspoon - Engelland (scary but true)

Ramo
Ortio

* Bollig, Stajan, Wideman and Smid traded for picks/prospects

.

[Split98]

Woah, that ones really interesting!

2 so far have tried Jooris at RW. Can he play RW well or is that wishful shoehorning? If so... I'll be editing mine already...

And I really hope Engelland has nothing to do with our future...

I'm thinking a 'what roster do we need to make us successful', so no specific timeframe but I'm curious about any concepts

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Split98

Woah, that ones really interesting!

2 so far have tried Jooris at RW. Can he play RW well or is that wishful shoehorning? If so... I'll be editing mine already...

I don't see why not, he plays Center, which is a lot harder to play than wing. He's right handed, has good size and throws his body around. I actually think he'd make a great 4th liner.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

I don't see why not, he plays Center, which is a lot harder to play than wing. He's right handed, has good size and throws his body around. I actually think he'd make a great 4th liner.

Great point. Editing my post with him as a 4th move RW. I'm convinced

[flylock shox]

I think Jooris can play anything he wants to. He's just a great utility player in the making.

I might try:

Gaudreau - Bennett - Poirier
UFA - Monahan - Colborne
Klimchuk - Granlund - Jooris
Ferland - Bouma - (player acquired through trade/draft)

Brodie - Giordano
Russell - (player acquired through trade/draft)
Wotherspoon - (player acquired through trade/draft)

Still in the system: Sieloff, Jankowski
Gone in trade: Hudler, Wideman, Baertschi, Backlund
Lost to UFA: Glencross

[GioforPM]

Lots of room to make trades or sign UFAs, but as is:

Gaudreau Monahan Poirier
Ferland Bennett Colborne
Granlund Backlund Klimchuk
Hanowski Bouma Byron

Gio Brodie
Russell Draft pick
Kanzig Wotherspoon

Gillies Ortio

[Finger Cookin]

Fitting the pieces: what lineup does our roster make?

And yet, I have the bends.

Now there is too much syrup on my pancakes,

Nix Nada is your friend.

[Caged Great]

here's how I see things in the near future

Gaudreau-Bennett-Poirier
UFA/trade-Monahan-Hudler
Raymond-Backlund-Granlund
Ferland-Bouma-Smith

Gio-Brodie
UFA/trade-UFA/Trade
Wotherspoon-Russell

Hiller
Ortio

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

here's how I see things in the near future

Gaudreau-Bennett-Poirier
UFA/trade-Monahan-Hudler
Raymond-Backlund-Granlund
Ferland-Bouma-Smith

Gio-Brodie
UFA/trade-UFA/Trade
Wotherspoon-Russell

Hiller
Ortio

It'd be great if one of those two UFA/Trades were Culkin or Kulak, but that might be too hopeful.

[fanman]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

here's how I see things in the near future

Gaudreau-Bennett-Poirier
UFA/trade-Monahan-Hudler
Raymond-Backlund-Granlund
Ferland-Bouma-Smith

Gio-Brodie
UFA/trade-UFA/Trade
Wotherspoon-Russell

Hiller
Ortio

Looks pretty good to me. Maybe Colborne with Monahan-Hudler though?
I'm really still not sure which one out of Hiller or Ramo makes it after this season.

Hopefully there's another surprise out of the Dmen in Adirondack in the next couple of years, possibly Kulak or Culkin steps up.

[PeteMoss]

Don't see Bouma as a long term centre... Jooris would be the centre if Bouma and Jooris were on the same line.

[Toonage]

Next year I would like to see/expect to see:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Colborne
Raymond-Bennett-Jooris
Hudler-Backlund-Poirier
Bouma-Granlund-Ferland
- Bollig
- Stajan

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Wotherspoon
- Engelland

Hiller-Ramo

[heep223]

Hudler-Monahan-Colborne
Gaudreau-Bennett-Poirier
Raymond-Granlund-Jooris
Bouma-Stajan-Ferland

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Wotherspoon
- Engelland

Hiller-Ramo

Unfortunately I think Backlund will get traded. Logjam up the middle and he's probably our biggest asset at this point.

EDIT: and we'll lose Glennie at the deadline or after this season.

[dissentowner]

In a few years:

Gaudreau/Bennett/via trade/UFA
Hudler/Monahan/Poirier
Klimchuk/Jankowski/Ferland
Bouma/Jooris/Colborne

Gio/Brodie
Russell/trade/UFA
Engelland/Wotherspoon
Kanzig

Ramo
Ortio

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

here's how I see things in the near future

Gaudreau-Bennett-Poirier
UFA/trade-Monahan-Hudler
Raymond-Backlund-Granlund
Ferland-Bouma-Smith

Gio-Brodie
UFA/trade-UFA/Trade
Wotherspoon-Russell

Hiller
Ortio

Don't believe Jooris will be part of the long term future?

[ForeverFlameFan]

For those confused about the 4th C, it should be Arnold.