Pairings are killing me too, Franson with us would have to be a 1st pairing guy because I don't think Krug-Franson 2nd pairing could work and they'll want to test Krug on the 2nd pairing, also Seidenberg-Franson 2nd pairing could be painfully low and We'd have a 6.2M 3rd pairing with that(Krug-McQuaid) and again the top4 would be painfully slow. I'm hoping Colin would be our 2nd pairing D playing potentially with Seidenberg on the 1st half of the season, same can be said for Trotman, but I see Colin bein a much better prospect and a fit into our lineup and for what is missing from our D group, he seems to hit everything thats missing.
Chara-Zidlicky
Seidenberg-Colin
Krug-McQuaid
is the group right now for me. O'Gara/Grzelcyk getting a look after their season ends.
= stay at home D with strong puck mover who lears the zone with speed or with strong passing.
Chara-Colin
Krug- Carlo/x
O'Gara-McQuaid
2016-,
then we'd still have Zboril, Grzelcyk, Arnesson ready to step up, if we lock 4-5 spots for years then how are we going to ever fit rookies into our lineup? We can't afford to pay for top players if we don't have strong ELC players on the roster and make us contenders= we wouldn't ice the best lineup as possible.
I see that my proposal answer to you being weaker because:
it won't
1) make us potential top teams in the East,
2)doesn't help our future at all, not allowing young players to step up and find their game/learn the NHL game in our retool year,
3)it would just harm our 2016- season when we'd be pushing lots of unexperienced players into the lineup at the same time and at the same time we would want to be top teams in the East.
Our season needs to have a meaning, purpose. Either be strong enough to do damage in the playoffs or get ready for future runs.
I honestly think Carlo is a few years away. In reality, is anyone from the 2015 draft class going to be ready before Krejci/Bergeron start their decline?