• If this is the roster we are going into the season with, I could see Trotz preferring Beauvillier at center over Nelson. He’ll slide Tito right in where Tavares was, and match that line up against opponent’s top defensive pairings. Yes, their offensive numbers will dip, but they are our best three top six forwards defensively. Barzal’s line will get good matchups in this case.
• We’ve seen Ladd and Beauvillier both succeed riding shotgun with Barzal and Eberle, why not Nelson?
• Ho-Sang gets to line up with two NHL veterans who are defensively responsible in Ladd and Filppula.
• I can see Trotz using Komarov up and down the lineup, but ultimately see him being most effective with Clutterbuck and Cizikas.
• Yes, I have Toews making the team and playing wih Pulock on the second pairing. I think Trotz can mold this kid into Nate Schmidt 2.0.
Lee (30, 20) - Beauvillier (25, 25) - Bailey (15-35)
Nelson (25, 20) - Barzal (22, 48) - Eberle (25, 35)
Ladd (20, 15) - Filppula (15, 20) - Ho-Sang (12, 28)
Komarov - Cizikas - Clutterbuck (just get 30 goals from this line + Martin & Kuhnhackl
Martin, Kuhnhackl
Leddy - Boychuk
Toews - Pulock
Hickey - Pelech
Mayfield
Greiss/Lehner
That’s a total of 219 goals, 42 less than last season, without even adding in the D projections.