Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
JVR - Bolland - Clarkson
Kulemin - Bozak - McClement
D'Amigo - Colborne - McLaren/Orr
Phaneuf - Gunner
Gardiner - Franson
Rielly - ______
updating mine:
Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
JVR - Bolland - Clarkson
Kulemin - Bozak - McClement
D'Amigo/Ashton - Colborne - McLaren/Orr
Phaneuf - Franson
Gardiner - Ranger
Rielly/Liles - Gunner
7th D = Fraser : he plays on the 3rd pairing left side if we're facing a team with big forwards who Rielly or Liles may not be able to handle as well, or if we just need to add toughness or need him to fight
Reimer
Bernier
OR (without Franson)
Phaneuf - Gunner
Gardiner - Ranger
Rielly/Liles - Fraser
Reasoning:
first line of Lupul - Kadri - Kessel consists of our best 3 forwards. they'll be one of the top lines in the league. a legit first line IMO.
second line of JVR - Bolland - Clarkson will probably bang in a lot of ugly goals. it'll be a tough line for the other team to play against. but I think they'll find a way to score. Carlyle had mentioned that he wanted to give Bolland a bigger role than he had in Chicago.
third line of Kulemin - Bozak - McClement can shut down othe teams' top line. can probably score goals against other teams' 3rd lines because they're probably more skilled. can compete against other teams' second lines. strong on face-offs.
4th line gives Colborne the chance to see if he's an NHL player (I think he is).
On defense, I think Franson is good enough to play on the top line with Phaneuf. Gardiner and Ranger should be a quality pairing. Gunner will be a solid 3rd line defensemen either playing with Rielly, Liles or Fraser.
I think we make Reimer the starter. But give Bernier some games too. Go with whoever is playing better.