Gurianov will start the year in the bottom-6. He will be the 'Roope Hintz' of this season. He'll spend most of the year getting his legs under him in the bottom-6. If he plays well enough, he'll get thrown into the top-6 in February or March. Until then, Perry and Dickinson will likely share some top-6 minutes on the wing.

Hintz's speed is also going to best be utilized on the wing. He's a great 2C, with his vision and playmaking, but his speed is best showcased on the wing, where he has more open ice. With Pavelski on the roster, I'd be putting Hintz on the top line with Seguin. Those two together create a nightmare for opposing teams.

Send Dowling back down, throw Dellandrea on that 3rd line, keep Faksa with Cogs and Comeau or Janmark, and scratch the one that's not being used. Gives Dellandrea his 9-game tryout with guys that actually magnify his skill set. Putting Delly with Comeau and Cogliano isn't going to show the type of player that he is, but putting him between guys like Gurianov and Dickinson will give Dallas a taste of what he can actually do. It's the most accurate way to see if Dellandrea is ready for the NHL, or if he needs to go back to Flint. If he goes back to Flint, call up L'Esperance and keep Dowling in the AHL where he belongs.

Random question, instead of spending 21 million on pavelski, would dallas have been better off a minor deal to bring eakin back to town, hell uva team coming that a fall off a cliff of pavelski play could get in the way of, 7 million nmc heading into expansion could be interesting

Can Dellandrea not play in the AHL?
I agree about Gurianov.
If Hintz isn’t playing 2C, then I would would ask if Benn would retake that duty. What do you think?

Per the NHL/CHL Agreement, Dellandrea has to play at either the NHL or back in Flint (OHL). He’s not old enough for the AHL.

Benn is significantly quicker than Pavelski and would be much better suited on the wing, especially since Pavs is such a solid net front presence.

I agree that it could be a rough signing in a few years but the NMC is only for the first two years so luckily he won't have to be protected in the expansion draft.