Higgins spot would be PTO in Cal right now...
Rodin should replace the "Higgins" spot if there was one that existed. Just to make things easier for forward discussion...
Group of Forwards...
Locks:
Sedin
Sedin
Erikkson
Horvat
Burrows
Sutter
Hansen
Baetschi
That's 8/13 that are slam dunk locks and pretty hard to argue otherwise unless they get traded.
Likely:
Dorsett (contract makes him likely on the team, he has 3ys @ 2.65mil left on his contract...)
Granlund (contract @ 2 years 900k)
Rodin (1 yr @ 1mil but honestly i doubt we bought him over to play in Utica for 1mil... plus he needs to clear waivers)
That makes 11/13 spots likely already claimed
Competing
Etem - has NHL experience, was with the team last year
Gaunce - probably the best forward in Utica last year, former 1st... but doesn't need to clear waivers
Virtanen - doesn't need to clear waivers but he'll likely be given every chance to earn a spot
Zalewski - was great in Utica, didn't look bad in Vancouver
Grenier - As others stated, similar player yet more productive last year and been in system a lot longer
Megna/Chaput - can be C and basically in the same situation as Rendulic
That's basically 8 players competing for 2 spots... i doubt we keep all 8 all that long (since near the end we probably want to start using our real lines leaving only a few spots for competition) and there's little doubt Gaunce, Virtanen, and Etem will all likely stay till the end even if they don't make the team. Zalewski and Grenier likely too given they probably deserve an extended look due to their performance last year in Utica. Rendulic doesn't actually have much "loyalty" factor going for him so unless he actually out performs all of the above (except Megna/Chaput. I expect Rendulic would be cut by the end of SJS game or whenever we start cutting down the roster meaning he'll have upto 4 games (but unlikely to play in all 4). The last 3 games probably should be final cuts/getting the lines ready.