Quoting: NickC1988
His cap hit is definitely manageable too, so he doesn't have to be amazing. Just top 4 and I'll be happy, same with Seabrook. I agree they do need role reductions, but who steps in? Murphy? Rutta? Jokiharju? Boqvist makes the team in 19-20 for sure and he could handle it. I think this season may be another stop gap year if they can't play top minutes.
Jokiharju will be fine if he is paired with Keith and Keith stays at home. If jokiharju is paired with Gus he is going to fall flat. The best move, assuming they don't get Faulk, is to keep Murphy and Keith together, Seabs and Gus and Manning and Jokiharju/Rutta. Ease Jokiharju in on the 3rd line. By mid to 2/3rds through, move him to the 1st line with Keith. Boqvist, I'm torn whether he is ready at the start of 2019/2020 or you wait till the end of the season. Given that they signed him, I'm guessing boqvist starts in 2019/2020.
If i'm managing the team, I'm moving Rutta at the TDL for anything that's for sure. Murphy goes in the offseason assuming Jokiharju looks good this year. Then next year you have to play Ian Mitchell in to see what you have. The shitty thing is with Murphy, Rutta, Mitchell, Jokiharju, Boqvist and Seabs all on the right side, 3 of those players need to go in the next two years...max 3 years. That's going to be the hard part which is why Rutta is gone at the TDL and Murphy in the offseason at the latest. Then between 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, one of Seabs, Jokiharju, Boqvist or Mitchell are going to get moved.
On the left side, there's not a clear 1st/2nd line guy besides Keith. Gus? Maybe. Beaudin, too early to say. Forsling, Hillman, Krys Dahlstrom, Carlsson, Gilbert I think are no more then 3rd pairing guys.