This is not meant to be argumentative but any thought of Lindholm on an 8 year deal should be put to bed. That's not to say the Fantilli just became the 1C but more because you aren't going to add another big contract knowing you're going to be extending Marchenko, Johnson, Fantilli, Jiricek and likely Sillinger to long term deals. Lindholm at 9 more years doesn't fit a need (long term) or financial structure (top 3 prospect pool and young core). I have no idea what the future of the center position holds but the team is still very high on Sillinger and expect him to be a middle 6 center. We can all talk until we're blue in the face about Jenner "not being a center" but the reality is.... he is and a pretty damn good one, just not a top line C as far as we'd like/expect to have. The team continues to say KJ will be a center and if so, it's not a bottom 6 center. not all these will be this year but if you look at the potential down the middle - yes, I'm going with potential - you can continue with Jenner in the top 6 but likely lessen his workload if Fantilli does sign. Fantilli may not start out in the top 6 but by the end of the year I would think he'll start to pull minutes in the top 6 and away from Jenner.
These are who I think are expected centers currently with the CBJ (no Roslovic but he certainly could have 1 more year impact on the position - not a good one
)
Jenner (Top 6 for now) - he could slide to 3C or back to wing but he's more than acceptable in the top 6 with the group of wings we have in my opinion
Fantilli (Top 6)
Johnson (Top 6)
Sillinger (Middle 6)
Voronkov (Bottom/Middle 6)
Kuraly (Bottom 6)
Del Bel Belluz (Middle 6)
McKown (Bottom/Middle 6)
Dunne (Bottom 6)
That doesn't include Danforth (actually a good center but not long term and good on the wing), Roslovic (trade, not re-signed) or Angle (AHL+ guy) but this is what I see for their potential (where I slot them). I also think the club strongly feels the future is Fantilli and Johnson as the top 2 centers on this team (next year) and that Sillinger and Voronkov will round out the top 4 centers on this roster. The others can take longer and see what happens with those above them but Del Bel Belluz is no throw in and you can continue to draft given the youth. If...If... they completely fall flat, there are assets to add a center to this team. I simply don't think we're looking at another long term, high level center. A stop gap... maybe. But I wouldn't be shocked if the Fantilli pick didn't change the view. Camp is going to be very, very important (as usual
) to see if Sillinger made any progress and is Voronkov ready to play in the NHL. These are two reasons I see Boone staying at C in the top 6 for one more year. That's our stopgap (my opinion)