I don't like those lines for a few reasons. I think Kane and Eichel play a similar possession game and both need the puck. I'd like to see Kane with Reinhart. O'Reilly with Eichel works. Also leaves Larsson as the 3rd center.
xxx - Eichel - O'Reilly
Kane - Reinhart - xxx
xxx - Larsson - xxx
Leaving Moulson, Ennis, Girgensons, and Foligno as available wingers. Eichel and O'Reilly could use a bigger, space creating forward. Kane and Reinhart could use the same. To create the third line you mentioned, Ennis and Moulson don't fit. Add in some prospect graduation in a few years:
O'Reilly - Eichel - Fasching
Kane - Reinhart - Girgensons
Foligno - Larsson - Bailey/Baptiste
Chemistry and style, I like those lines a lot better. Goes back to my point a few pages back. Do Ennis and Moulson fit on this team in a few years?
That's a solid way of laying it out in my opinion, far more succinct too than I've so often managed ;-)
I'd suggest taking your first layout with XXX and putting it beside a list of written in ink of likely locks going forward year to year, this would be the "list of guys we're stuck with good or bad".
Pool #1
Eichel (indefinite lock)
Reinhart (1yr to definite, depending how things go this next half season?)
Kane (3r-4yr lock, hard to imagine anything shorter given new acquisition)
O'Reilly (6 yr lock, hard to imagine anything shorter given new acquisition/contract extention)
Moulson (4 yr lock, he's got the NTC after all, and really hasn't shown to have trade value anyway)
Gionta (2 yr lock, unless then can get to him retire in the off season)
Then in pencil consider guys who are likely to be kept for an assortment of reasons... I'd call this the list of "awesome to keep riches, but these guys have the most trade value too..."
Pool #2
Ennis (team draftee and young vet with middle 6 offense, but fills much the same spot as Moulson, albeit it younger and with more heart - also without a NTC though)
Foligno (team draftee and young vet with bottom 6 physical and middle 6 serviceable)
Girgensens (team draftee and just a sophomore but still proven middle 6, potential top 6, versatile thru line up and positions
Larsson (team draftee and just a rookie/sophomore with proven middle 6 potential, unknown ceiling, versatile thru line up and positions)
Then with a pencil that has one of those flimpsy erasers on the top end, calling this list the "other guys who could possibly fill gaps, depending who comes and goes from the awesome riches list"...
Pool #3
McGinn (new acquisition, no lt investment, maybe offers similar role to Foligno in the middle 6, though a bit older with health questions now)
Legwand (new acqusition, not lt investment, older vet, steady bottom 6 but declining, possibly fills more gaps if Gionta wasn't already around for the aged vet elements)
Des (young career bottom 3 grinder offers a physical element more or less needed according to how the rest of the lines flush out)
McCormick (replaces/replaceble by Legwand, younger but with a health issue, yet possibly more physical than Legwand)
Then you could do a third list with the prospects who may/may not ever play in a Sabres uniform.
Me, I comparing the pool lists, I figure at least -
1] one of Moulson (Pool #1) and Ennis (Pool #2) are gone
clearly that means Ennis and his lack of NTC + greater trade value for his youth
2] one of Foligno and McGinn are moved
I'd suspect McGinn if possible, as favor should go to the younger team draftee
3] one of Des and McCormick are gone
presumably Des as he ought to be more tradeable given McCormick's health issue, and of course if McCormick fully recovers/reintegrates, then he fills that 4C gap Legwand is holding
After that.... Really depends upon the development, versatility and trade values of Reinhart, Girgensens and Larsson. Dump one of Moulson & Ennis (Ennis, sadly) and there's a top 6 opening for one of those three guys... Dump one of Foligno or McGinn and there's a middle 6 opening for one of those guys...
Just thinking/writing "aloud" though...
