Projected Starting Line Up

Both Walman and Pysyk is out long term due to surgery.

Copp is 2C, Smith and Sunny are not centres, Bert is on top line, not 3rd - same with Raymond.

gosh this is so far from the projected lineup, let's compare notes:

Bertuzzi - Larkin - Raymond
Vrana - Copp - Perron
Kubalik - Suter - Zadina
Erne - Rasmussen - Sundqvist

Chiarot - Seider
Edvinsson - Hronek
Maatta - Lindstrom

Smith, Oesterle

IR: Fabbri, Pysyk, Walman (all out for at least the first few weeks of the season)

There is a chance Berggren or even Söderblom makes the team, if either do they'd slot in on the left wing of the 3rd line, moving Kubalik to the 4th, either shifting Erne to the RW and Rasmussen out of the lineup, or just making Erne a scratch.


The main problem you're having is you're too attached to the listed positions. Copp is listed as a LW, but is good on faceoffs and has a lot of experience at center, which is what we signed him for. He'd be a major upgrade at 2C from Suter. The way you formatted the lineup put guys like Raymond and Bertuzzi on the 3rd line, when in reality they're the best options for the first line wings. Do you really think Raymond is worse than Zadina? Also, you forgot that Edvinsson is almost guaranteed to make the lineup

I'd switch Maatta and Edvinsson. Maatta and Lindstrom are both defensive defenseman. Hronek needs a defensive partner to make up for his lack defensive ability and pairing Edvinsson with a defensive partner like Lindstrom leaves him he free to play his game. I think the rest is spot on.

Not even close to the opening night lineup.

Walman and Pysyk are out long term after shoulder surgery and achilles surgery respectively.

Bertuzzi-Larkin-Raymond
Vrana-Copp-Perron
Kubalik-Suter-Zadina
Erne-Rasmussen-Sundqvist.
Smith
IR Fabbri

Chiarot-Seider
Maatta-Hronek
Edvinsson-Lindstrom
Oesterle/Hagg
IR Walman Pysyk

Husso
Nedeljkovic.