GrumpyKelly
Registered User
I have only one major request, sign or trade for a top4 d-man. If that happens, also trade one of Pysyk/Petro (can't see them keeping a 2M+ healthy scratch for a second straight year).
A better 4C would be nice, but I'm not counting on it. The market isn't that great either.
Outside of that, we have a lot of young forwards close to being ready for bigger roles, this is not the time to commit big money to a 6-8 year UFA deal.
Where does he fit though?
Huberdeau
Dadonov
Bjugstad
Malgin
Vatrano
McGinn
Mamin
(Haley & Sceviour are a given on the 4th line, so no point in counting those in)
That's 6 winger spots for 8 guys (9 if Tippett looks good at camp). I think McGinn & Mamin are a lock because we lack physicality as it is, though McGinn might push Mamin to a call-up role, which isn't a bad thing for his development. I also don't see McCann replacing MacKenzie, because he just isn't good enough defensively (not that Mac is awesome, but he's at least average and can PK, looked better as the season went on). Then we get to our young scoring wingers. Is McCann better than Malgin or Vatrano? Nope. Bjugstad? Unless some team offers a can't say no -offer for him, I think he stays. Huberdeau & Dadonov obviously aren't going anywhere. So we're left with something around:
Dadonov-Barkov-Bjugstad
Huberdeau-Trocheck-Malgin
McGinn (/Mamin when McGinn is hurt)-Borgstrom-Vatrano
Haley/UFA LW-MacKenzie/UFA C-Sceviour
So McCann might be Haley's replacement whenever he sits.. which isn't all that great.
Haley should not be playing more than a handful games next year. If that happens, it's another big strike by Boughner. Ideally they get an upgrade on MacK too but hard to see that happening unless they give the C to someone else. McCann has still room to grow, hopefully he does that and becomes a solid third liner. It would be foolish to give up on a 21 year old.
McGinn IMO is out after a year anyway, he could be packaged with someone (Bjugs/Pysyk) along with picks to get that veteran top 4 D. I like McGinn, he brings it every night and plays "the right way" but at the end, he's completely replaceable.