IMO it will all depend on how many players get traded between now & the start of the yr as to whether Lazar is sent to Bingo or not. My guess is that Condra will not be re-signed & that Lehner & possibly one other player could get traded. I doubt Legwand, Phillips & Neil get traded before the trade deadline which basically leaves no room for Lazar in Ottawa. Greening could also be sent to Bingo if he is not bought out.
The roster size is for only 23 healthy bodies & there are 26 players below, 3 have to come off the roster, if they are all healthy to start the season. Potentially someone like Phillips could start next season on the injured list & not count towards the roster limit if he is still hurt. The guys in Italic are the ones that IMO are the most likely to be affected by any roster changes.
1. Hoffman - Zibanejad - Ryan
2. Michalek - Turris - Stone
3. MacArthur - Pageau - Chiasson
4. Z. Smith - Legwand - Neil
5. Greening - Lazar - Condra
1. Methot - Karlsson
2. Wiercioch - Ceci
3. Boroweicki - Gryba
4. Cowen - Phillips
1. Anderson
2. Hammond
3. Lehner
Greening gets bought out. You can't have him blocking anyone, let alone someone like Puempel.
Condra will cash in elsewhere. 1.75 X 3 for someone who needs that kind of player (like us!).
Cowen gets traded, perhaps with Lehner, perhaps on his own.
Legwand gets traded, perhaps with Lehner, perhaps on his own.
1. Hoffman - Zibanejad - Ryan
2. MacArthur - Turris - Stone
3. Michalek - Pageau - Lazar
4. Puempel - Smith - Neil
5. Chiasson (extra)
1. Methot - Karlsson
2. Wiercioch - Ceci
3. Boroweicki - UPGRADE
4. Gryba (extra)
5. Phillips (pressbox/assistant coach)
1. Anderson
2. Hammond
Really, there are only 1 issue I can think of and that's that there's no room for Prince and there's no room for another top 9 player unless they trade Smith or Neil and move Lazar into the 4th line spot.