A lot of decent moves on paper. A strong "budget" offseason if you don't count the Semin extension as part of this offseason. The only real problem in my estimation is the bottom six and the lack of actual bottom six players. Where are the fast, big, gritty, forwards that actually have hands and want to hit in this organization? Usually teams have those kind of guys available at a moments notice. We just have a bunch of finesse guys who were primary offensive options in the AHL and are less adept at the NHL level and have learned to make due by playing defensively. No "traditional" bottom six guys by natural designation. We've talked about rebuilding that part of the lineup for YEARS. Ever since Kevyn Adams, Craig Adams, and Larose broke up. We just can't get it right.
I don't like that scrap heap surrounds Jordan Staal on our second line. Nathan Gerbe, salvaged from a buyout, starting on our second line is concerning. Patrick Dwyer belongs nowhere near a Top 6 in the NHL and likely wouldn't be a first liner in the AHL truthfully. Those are real concerns.
Boychuk and Dalpe are gone. Our hopes for secondary scoring walked out with them, even if those hopes were slim.
Jeff Skinner is going to play with mostly used up Dvorak and a huge question mark in Riley Nash.
The fourth line is comprised of failed scoring prospect Drayson Bowman, pugilist sans hockey stick Kevin Westgarth, and the biggest question mark on the roster in Elias Lindholm. I could easily see him sliding up and working with Skinner if he looks even adequate in the early going. I could easily see him going back to Sweden too if he looks out of place.
Do the Hurricanes give Malhotra a shot if he looks good in Charlotte? Della Rovere? Who knows. They'd both probably be an upgrade on the 4th line.
