This team is going to look mighty different next year. I can see half the roster getting turned over
All of Farnham, Ruutu, Kalinin, Josefson, Gionta, (I still feel like I'm missing someone?) are okay on the team, they're all just 4th liners and have no business playing above that. That could change for Kalinin, as he's still new. But this year he's produced like a pretty good 4th liner. Tootoo is fine for the 4th line too, I just feel he's nearing the end. Matteau has barely looked like an NHL player when in the lineup this year. Though I do think he needs a longer rope than what he's gotten, just a little bit longer. Just a slight bit. I'm still undecided on Kennedy. Started out decently, cooled down a lot. Same with Elias. Tlusty has produced at a pace lower than some of the 4th liners I constantly ***** about. So that means that we have to purge half of them, just so we don't have nothing but 4th liners in the entire bottom 6 again.
Ruutu will be out of the league after this year, Tootoo will be out of the league after this year unless we're dumb enough to re sign him. Not sure if he's one of Shero's boys or not. Shero and him go back to Nashville together. Elias will probably be out of the league next year. If he's not though, I think it will be in another city. I never thought we'd re sign him right from before training camp even started this year. If he continues to play like this and his offense continues to dip, I'm not sure how many teams will be lining up to sign him at all. Maybe Pete would love to add him in San Jose? Ruutu and Tootoo weren't Pete guys like Zubrus, so I don't think they'll be en route to San Jose after this season.
And if what I say about Josefson and Kalinin is really bashing them, I think I must have curb stomped Zubrus, Ryder and Havlat last year and Bernier the year before. I've been pretty fair to them, and I haven't said anything that isn't true. They don't belong in the top 9, let alone the top 6. Josefson being the 3rd line center (as well as other 4th liners playing up above the 4th line) is THE reason why we have one even strength goal from our 3rd line this year. An unassisted soft serve special at that.