Quoting: Kylehamm59
I'm all for brining up young kids to play as I think kase was a very very pleasant surprise this year. Who know we might have a jake guentzal hidden I there some where. However, obviously you don't feel this way but I for one would NOT want 4 positions be open full time to first year players. That is a recipe for being pushed around by other contender teams. The depth chart listed above would be lucky to be a wild card team. Need to have core established players and leave 1-2 spots open for ahl players making the jump. Larsson, kerdiles and **maybe jones can crack the line up in the next 2 seasons. (Kerdiles I think this year) steel, nattinen and kossila need 2-3 years to develop their game
I see your perspective. However, I think you're not taking into account a few factors which would make those conditions untrue. First, there's a phenomenal chance that Megna or Larsson play significant NHL minutes on the left side this year, so they'd have a full year under their belt by '18-19. Same goes for Kerdiles.
The only actual newbies would be Jones, Steel, and Kossila (or nattinen, whoever is 4th C). However your concern is getting pushed around, and Jones would be far more likely to be the one doing the pushing. That leaves 2. One is Steel who dominated juniors, and will have a full year of pro under his belt in the AHL this year, and then will be safely positioned between ~420lbs of wingers. Kossila/Nattinen would be in a low pressure position as a 4th liner C learning the ins and outs.
The league is trending toward speed and skill, and that's exactly what this lineup brings. In the pacific the only teams I see that would be competing with this in 2 years is EDM, CGY, and maybe ARI. This team at worst would be 4th in the Pacific and a wild card, and at best taking the Pac title again.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
CapFriendly
CapFriendly