I honestly think Dano will get exposed. Copp is much more versatile. He is the only guy who can fill in for Lowry if needed. I would have said Perreault, but he is really showing his worth since being hitched to Scheif. The fact Lemieux is not far behind Dano, and has more toughness, probably makes Dano more expendable. Also the LW depth competing for spots, which makes him stuck at 4RW, at best. Maybe the organization offers Lemieux as a caveat for taking another player, but I don't see it.
I expect the Jets to go 7-3-1.
Protected: Scheif, Perreault, Wheeler, Little, Lowry, Armia, Copp
Trouba, Buff, Enstrom
Hellebuyck
Exposed: Dano, Matthias, Thorburn (UFA), Myers, Stuart, Chiarot, Postma (UFA), Hutch.
I think Myers injury problems would prevent him from being taken.
But I think a talent poor organization like Detroit would look at Myers, they lack a shutdown d. Perhaps we can get Xavier Ouellet and a 2nd rd pick for Myers, addressing our LHD depth.
Stuart is traded away.
I think Postma is re-signed on the cheap, $1 million, brought back to compete for 3 RHD, with Poolman. If Postma walks maybe trade a pick for Derrick Poiliot. Make the 3rd pair Poiliot-Ouellet, or Poolman.
Darling is signed to be our 1B goalie. A 45-35 scenario, which pushes Hellebuyck,
makes us strong in net.
If we lose Dano, and Thorburn, we probably need a RW. I would look at hometown boy Dale Weise, to free up cap space for the Flyers. He has some skill and some toughness.
Lineup:
Perreault-Scheif-Laine
Ehlers-Little-Wheeler
Matthias-Lowry-Armia
Connor/Petan-Copp-Weise
Tanev
Morrissey-Trouba
Enstrom-Buff
X. Ouellet-Postma/Poolman
Chiarot
Hellebuyck
Darling
PP1
Lowry
Scheif
Laine
Ehlers
Trouba
PP2
Wheeler
Little
Connor
Perreault
Buff
PK
Ouellet-Trouba
Enstrom-Buff
Morrissey
Lowry-Armia
Little-Wheeler
Copp-Matthias
Weise
Sign Dylan McIlrath to a 2way contract.
Re-sign Lipon, make him captain of the Moose, Howden, and Melchiori to 2 way contracts. Ryan Olsen to a minor league contract (RH center depth).
Sign Foley to a contract, Niku as well.
I move Roslovic to RW so that he can climb the depth chart.
Moose:
Foley-Petan/Connor-Roslovic
Howden-Harkins-Spacek
Lemieux-DeLeo-Lodge
Franklin-Olsen-Lipon
Gennaro, Glennie, Lane,
Niku-McIlrath
Melchiori-Nogier
Stojkewych-Kostalek
T. Zajac
Comrie
Hutch
I think this is a Maurice lineup. If we changed coaches, it would look different.