Pre backup goalie/trades (and we are open to trades) roster:
Parise-Malkin-Svechnikoc
Gaudreau-Karlsson-Bjorkstrand
Hornqvist-Hischier-Rust
Mangiapane-Henrique-D. Brown
Josi-McAvoy
Theodore-Fox
Dunn-Johnson
Hellebuyck
What. A. Team.
L1: High scoring vert winger in Parise with a couple Russians, they're going to just destroy you offensively. When Malkin turns it on he's one of the best players of this generation and Svechnikov is just unbelievably dynamic.
L2: So this time I have super kid Jonny Hockey, playing with the flow and a guy who's name has Bjork in it. That alone should be enough, but anyways Gaudreau is a premier offensive talent and should be on most peoples first lines, and will likely get Karlsson back to 40 goal form, an even if not he can be a possession beat while putting up some big numbers and playing two way hockey, not to mention my buddy Bjork who played unreal hockey this year, and how do you not love a Dane, but seriously, the guys an unreal hockey player
L3: Hornqvist has been putting up numbers for years, and Rust went above a ppg this year so I'm hoping that Pittsburgh connection clicks, and don't forget Hornqvists best hockey was played on the HBK line as a LW. Who can say they have a ppg player on their third line? And Hischier down the middle is just awesome, his offensive flair will be perfect and this lines competent both ways too.
L4: You know, like Parise people forget Dustin Brown still plays great hockey, but surprise! He really does, and with Henrique down the middle I actually expect a pretty defensively competent fourth line that can rip on people, plus their third wheels name is Mangiapane, eat bread, how do you not like to eat bread, and he's highly skilled, so a highly skilled bread eater, you have to love it.
Offence summary: With names like Bjorkstrand and Mangiapane we should automatically win, but if not every lines has unreal skill and there's two elite first lines here with lines 3 and 4 being more than above average too. Centre strength may not be as sexy as Stamkos-Aho-Barzal, but my wingers had some of the best seasons in the NHL this season and this whole team will just hold the puck until they score. Puck. Possession. I came away pretty happy with this.
D1: That first pair would be utterly dominant, with this years should be Norris winner on it in Josi in addition to a stud of a young D in McAvoy, and a good amount of playoff experience. If you want to talk the perfect pair, this is it.
D2: second pair is going to never let the other team get the puck and put up huge numbers, they're possession beasts and both had dominant seasons this year, with Theodore getting rave reviews, he should be a Norris contender this year.
D3: that third pair has a young analytical darling with a well proven vet who can more than handle heavy competition, Dunn just dominates competition and Johnson is the perfect tutor.
Defence summary: I'm going to be that guy, I think I really have the best blue line in this draft. Whether you like analytics, eye test or others opinions those 6 D always come out extremely well. None of them should get beat easily. Oh, and they're a bunch of possession machines, just the hockey we want. I love this blue line and I'm so pumped.
Goalie: Yeah Connor Hellebuyck should definitely be in Vezina contention and could drag Winnipeg into the playoffs on his own any given season, so I think that's enough here. Who even needs a backup.
Overall I just love this team so much, couldn't be happier about it.