maybe boqvist but probably not dach i mean kk made it so anything can happen but don't bet on it i think you could get more for gustafsson i mean he looked really good last season

Anyone but Caggiula on the top line. He's a bottom 6.

Also with Boqvist. He's still 18. Let him play in Rockford. Learn the pro game.

What is a god like Debrincat doing on the 3rd line?
And more importantly, what is Drake Caggiula doing on the top line?

If you read my description it's all about having a perfectly balanced Top 9 and being able to roll out 3 lines confidently. And Caggiula is one of those guys who can play anywhere and is easily movable down the lineup

Toews-Saad-Caggiula would arguably be my 3rd line in this scenario, but like I said, balance.

Not to far off to what I believe will happen. I think boqvist starts in Rockford and eventually Gustafson is moved, but that’s depending on the play of boqvist in the minors. Boqvist is literally a perfect replacement for the Gustafson of last season, but the trade would be tdl of when front office decided they have enough to assess boqvist. Dach will more likely be on the 3rd line if he makes it.

The problem is you've watered down all the lines. You don't really have a scoring line. You don't really have a shutdown line. You don't have a checking line.

A 3rd line of Caggiula-Smith-Shaw is a helluva checking line

A 4th line of Carpenter-Kampf and one of Fortin, Wedin, Johnson, or Hagel on the left is a pretty good energy/shutdown line. Maybe Perlini in the bottom 6. But his game doesn't fit a defensive or checking role. Which is unfortunate given his size and speed.

Kubalik can shoot. Slot him with 19/88.

Put Saad with Debrincat and Strome. He helps out defensively. That was a big weakness of 12-17-88.

This assumes Dach isn't ready. The only reason you put him in is if hes better than you think and clearly belongs. I disagree with a player getting his 9 and sending him back. Especially if he's not AHL eligible next year. You can't give him any games if you're unsure next year. Look at what Florida did with Owen Tippett. Played 7 games his draft year. Then sent him back to junior all year last year.

Boqvist, he's still 18. His defense is questionable. The Hawks were considering asking London to move him to forward. His talent is great. But there's no reason to rush him like they did Jokiharju. Henri started out great. Then things caught up. You could see Duncan Keith get visibly upset with him and scouts said hit him early and he's scared sh!tless. Plus Boqvist is the only right shot Rockford has.

Sorry for doing exactly what you don’t want, but dach shouldn’t make the team. I’d like it if he went back to the whl. He’s gotta work on consistent point production. Also, I’d like it he worked on foot speed, everyone seems to think him being able to shield the puck from defenders equates to speed. Hell, the breakaway he had in the scrimmage was him blocking off a guy 8 inches shorter and 50 lbs. lighter than him. If he can consistently out skate juniors back in the whl, then I’ll feel better about him, but for now he looks ripe for someone standing him up and laying him out.

Having said that, boqvist is absolutely insane. Yes defense is a work in progress, but the ahl will help with that. I don’t think he should start in the nhl right away, but I think after half a season he could be ready.

I agree with everything you just said and this was just my what-if scenario. 1 more year of juniors would be perfect for Dach and he should be more than ready next year. And Boqvist should start in the AHL this year and if he is producing well and maturing then he pushes Gus out the door either at the TDL or offseason.