Lazily copying BBA's lines from the other thread, because it seems almost entirely locked in already:
Tlusty-Staal-Semin
Skinner-JStaal - OPEN / LaRose
Bowman - Jokinen - Dwyer/LaRose
Nodl-Brent-LaRose/Dwyer
Stewart
- We know Eric will be the #1C and that he will play with Tlusty rather than Skinner. So that's 4 places locked in.
- Based on playing style and contract, Semin seems a sure bet for that #1RW spot.
- We flat-out don't have a better option than Jokinen at 3C. Brent is locked in at 4C.
- The bottom 6 wingers could shuffle, but the above is a safe bet. Chad will get 2RW or 3RW status unless a rookie tears it out of his cold dead hands.
- Muller seems committed to not stashing a guy like Bowman behind a guy like Nodl based on veteran status. Nodl is better off getting PK minutes than skating around idly at ES.
- Stewart has done nothing to show he isn't completely expendable.
So the only real open issue is whether a rookie steps up and takes that open RW spot, or if it goes to LaRose and everyone fills in behind him.
I'm less sure about the D, but this is what I'd like to see for starters:
Pitkanen/Faulk
Gleason/McBain
Harrison/Corvo
- Pitkanen/Faulk are two guys who aren't quite dominant, but they don't have major weaknesses either. Seeing as we still have no true #1 stud, this pairing is our best bet for taking care of business in all zones and both sides of the ice.
- Gleason/McBain could be a disaster, but it could also be a growing year for both of them. Obviously the idea here is a balance of talent.
- Harrison and Corvo are two guys who don't need to be the ice more than about 13 minutes a game. In limited, safe minutes they can both be reasonably effective.
Each pairing has a balance of O and D, and each has a RHS paired with an LHS, and each has at least one older player on the ice.