So at this point, you have six forwards you can trust; Toews, Kane, Panarin, Anisimov, Kruger, and Hossa. In order to roll four lines, you need to spread those six out, and fill in the gaps with players who can support them.
My strategy here is to go with three scoring lines (two dangerous lines, and one supplementary scoring line that can also take some d-zone draws), and one shutdown line. I'm using players currently under team control.
L1 Hinostroza-Toews-Kane
L2 Panarin-Anisimov-Panik
L3 Hartman-Schmaltz (Kero)-Hossa
L4 Desjardins-Kruger-Ras/Kero/Motte
Line 1: The Toews and Kane combo is probably the best offensive forward pairing in the NHL, they now have about a decade's worth of chemistry, and Panarin's presence allows Kane and Toews to be reunited. That left wing spot is even more of a "lottery spot" than it was with the Toews and Hossa pair. Basically it just needs to be someone who can pass, and won't make a ****-ton of mistakes. Hinostroza was Rockford's best setup forward, so he gets a crack at it first.
Line 2: This line is all about Panarin. He sticks with his fellow Russian who will dig pucks out for him, and will go stand in front of the next. Panik on this line gives Panarin a shooter to occasionally make plays for. Panik's main role is just to use his speed and size to help open the ice so Panarin can put the puck on net. Anisimov adds some defensive responsibility just like last season.
Line 3: This is your supplementary scoring line, this is also where Hossa's defensive ability is used to cover for two young players. Schmaltz is a speed and playmaking center who is said to have solid two-way ability. Schmaltz may not be ready for the NHL yet, so Tanner Kero may start the season in that spot. Hartman is pretty much an unknown, maybe he's a Shaw-type, maybe he's not. Either way, you have to think Hartman should be ready for the NHL now. This line makes me the most nervous out of all four, and probably sees the least amount of ice-time unless Schmaltz/Kero or Hartman really shine. Hossa still gets his ice-time through the PP and PK.
Line 4: This is your typical Marcus Kruger shutdown line. Kruger does the hard work, and you stick some wingers with him that have some defensive ability. They live for d-zone starts, and hardly score.
Defense:
Keith-Seabrook
Kempny(but hopefully Campbell)-Hammer
Gus (Kempny)-TVR
I disagree with that, we have 9 F's I think we can "trust".
hossa, kane, panik, JT, AA, krugs, Ras, AP, Desi. That isn't bad.
I like your lines as well. 19-88 a pair. Aa-AP a pair and 22-81 as a pair. I think if we can do that and fit in the last guy that doesn't kill the other 2 then that's great, I hear ya. I also like the below. 81 is going to bounce back. He gets 500 and he will feel better and they will start to go in.
Yes we will have 3 kids we have no clue about with consistency.
I think we might start as below
schmaltz-19-81
Party
hartman - kruger - Panik
motte - moose - desi
I think we are fine down the middle. People need to understand Kruger is our THIRD line C in terms of umm, everything. Minutes played should show you he is 3C since 10-11 year. moose is fine with the 4th line.
We need 3 wingers that can play in the NHL. Our D is high end IFFFF we get Soupy back. I don't know a thing about Lundberg. I need to study that.
FORWARDS (13)
Rightwing: M. Hossa ($5,275,000) - P. Kane ($10,500,000) - R. Panik ($875,000) - T. Motte ($925,000)
Centre: J. Toews ($10,500,000) - A. Anisimov ($4,550,000) - M. Kruger ($3,083,333) - D. Rasmussen ($575,000) - M. Lundberg ($692,500)
Leftwing: N. Schmaltz ($925,000) - A. Panarin ($812,500) - R. Hartman ($863,333) - A. Desjardins ($800,000)
DEFENSE (7)
Right: B. Seabrook ($6,875,000) - N. Hjalmarsson ($4,100,000) - T. Van Riemsdyk ($825,000)
Left: D. Keith ($5,538,462) - B. Campbell ($2,800,000) - M. Kempny ($700,000) - E. Gustafsson ($667,500)
GOALTENDER (2)
C. Crawford ($6,000,000) - S. Darling ($587,500)
AHL BURIED
D. Rundblad ($100,000)
DETAILS
Roster Size: 22
NHL Salary Cap: $73,000,000
Bonus Overages: $3,070,000
Cap Hit: $72,765,128
Cap Space: $234,872
