Xxxxx-Weber
Kulak-Petry
Reilly-Juulsen
Mete + 1st + any prospect not named Suzuki or Poehling
For
1st pairing LD partner for Weber
The best way to acquire a top pairing d would have been to have gotten Skinner, Perron, Duclair, Sheary this summer when they were available for next to nothing. That would have given us the depth of assets at forward to acquire a dman. But our GM couldn't do that, because it's more important to make sure there's enough ice time for Peca, Deslauriers, Plekanec, Hudon, Armia, and Shaw than to get the assets needed to acquire a top 4 d????
There were no top 4 d available at a reasonable price this summer. The talent was on the wing. It was clear as day to me that you stack up on talent on the wing and then during the season make a trade with a team that's good defensively but struggling to score. Or, a team like the Oilers may be willing to give futures for good wingers that you then ship for that top 4 d.