Dog days of summer

This team is nice. Defense is still a bit shaky (imagine without dumba).

Yeah, they need help with a minute muncher. Even if they get Dumba.

I feel like Guenther on the 4th is such a waste. I feel like they maybe opt to move Crouse to get a nice return? Maybe a defenseman?

Fourth line and PP time until he works his way up the line up. I'd love to stick him with Cooley on the second, but I just feel like getting those guys with veterans to hold their hands on their own line means you don't have to shelter them as heavily. Easier competition for Guenther when lower, as well.

1st line already is less than ideal for a dzone start. Zuck-Cooley-Guenther as a line would mean your whole top six needs to have an coach's eye out on their starts. Plus the one line you can throw out without worries has a PK pair, so if it's a dzone face off after the kill, Crouse and Bjugstad are gassed and now you're down to much uglier options to throw over the boards. As is, you've got lines two and three that should be very safe. They could always throw him out there with the top six in the offensive zone.

Hopefully by Christmas Cooley and Guenther are both comfortable, and then you can mix and match as necessary. And there are always injuries. Not too worried about Guenther getting/earning time. He just has to be reliable enough to kick Kerfoot down. He was a little one-dimensional last year, but ceiling is sky high for him and he just needs a chance to get his feet under him and use his line mates better. Not that they are a playoff team, but it's just dicey to count on him and Cooley not being a liability out of the gate. Bear doesn't bury the kids for mistakes, so I'm not too worried about it. He'll get his time.