Quoting: BigBeardBurns
Where’s Vegas going to get the Cap Space for the players that are actually important to them? U dont just let a G like Fleury walk, and u got him, Subban, Tuch, Lindberg, and Schmidt to resign next summer with not a lot of space becoming available.
You only win Stanley Cups one year at a time. Once you win one, each of your players' trade value goes up. Looking at the depth on that third line, I think this team is a contender.
Quoting: Missouri
Well at least that makes more sense to have Malkin on the second because Crosby is on the first.
Crosby starts 56% of his shifts in the offensive zone this year and has 23 goals. Karlsson has even zone starts and 36 goals, so far this year.
https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/k/karlswi01.html
I'm sure Crosby will go on a big scoring streak down the stretch, or get hurt. One of those. We'll see.
I dont' think they're benching Engelland who has played 2nd pair minutes this year, or Bellemare who's been on the third line, ahead of Jon Merrill or Ryan Carpenter, but otherwise this is pretty spot on.
If you're writing a depth chart, you're free to slot Tavares in as the best of the best, but in terms of teach chemistry, the first line that helped W. Karlsson break out and score thirty goals this year is sticking together, and it will either draw other teams' top defensive pairs or feast against weak competition. Now, I think that means Karlsson gets Marchessault and Neal, leaving Smith and Tot for the new guy.
Keeping Haula in a third line role lets this team just roll over most of the West.