Northern Avs Fan
Registered User
- May 27, 2019
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Watching how the defence comes together is going to be a fascinating follow in the offseason and training camp.
Byram and Timmins are both pushing for spots while, guys like Cole and Zadorov are trying to stay on the team.
Personally, this is what I see happening.
Zadorov is traded at the draft for either a pick, or as part of a package for a forward.
1st pair: Graves - Makar (One would assume that these guys should improve next season and make this top pair even better. I worry a little bit about Graves taking a step back, but I think he’ll be fine. These two have have pretty good chemistry, hopefully it builds next year.)
2nd pair: Girard - Johnson (Girard proved last season that he’s capable of handling big minutes. I’m concerned about EJ, but if Bednar can find a way to limit his minutes, hopefully he can be somewhat effective.)
3rd pair: Byram - Cole (Not ideal to have two Lefty defenceman together, but they’ll have to figure it out. Honestly I’d be shocked if Byram was sent back to junior for a second season. It does him no good for his development. And even as a rookie I think he’ll be an upgrade over Zadorov. Bednar tends to give his bottom pair decent minutes, so I’m not worried about Byram’s development being hurt by playing in this role.)
Dark horse third pair: Byram - Timmins
(If Timmins beats out Cole in camp, then you could go to the Lefty-Righty rookie tandem of Byram-Timmins. I think Timmins most likely starts the year in the AHL, but I don’t think it’s inconceivable that he beats out Cole in camp. Maybe that is too many young players on defence, but I have no worries about Makar and Girard playing 25 minutes a night. They were playing big minutes most of this season.)
I’m really excited to get an extended look at Byram and Timmins in the NHL. We’re getting closer to the having the blue line we’ve wanted for years.
Byram and Timmins are both pushing for spots while, guys like Cole and Zadorov are trying to stay on the team.
Personally, this is what I see happening.
Zadorov is traded at the draft for either a pick, or as part of a package for a forward.
1st pair: Graves - Makar (One would assume that these guys should improve next season and make this top pair even better. I worry a little bit about Graves taking a step back, but I think he’ll be fine. These two have have pretty good chemistry, hopefully it builds next year.)
2nd pair: Girard - Johnson (Girard proved last season that he’s capable of handling big minutes. I’m concerned about EJ, but if Bednar can find a way to limit his minutes, hopefully he can be somewhat effective.)
3rd pair: Byram - Cole (Not ideal to have two Lefty defenceman together, but they’ll have to figure it out. Honestly I’d be shocked if Byram was sent back to junior for a second season. It does him no good for his development. And even as a rookie I think he’ll be an upgrade over Zadorov. Bednar tends to give his bottom pair decent minutes, so I’m not worried about Byram’s development being hurt by playing in this role.)
Dark horse third pair: Byram - Timmins
(If Timmins beats out Cole in camp, then you could go to the Lefty-Righty rookie tandem of Byram-Timmins. I think Timmins most likely starts the year in the AHL, but I don’t think it’s inconceivable that he beats out Cole in camp. Maybe that is too many young players on defence, but I have no worries about Makar and Girard playing 25 minutes a night. They were playing big minutes most of this season.)
I’m really excited to get an extended look at Byram and Timmins in the NHL. We’re getting closer to the having the blue line we’ve wanted for years.
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