They won’t actually be that bad. They lack the #1C and defense depth but it’s a pretty good team other than that.

Put Romanov instead of Kulak and Evans instead of Weal.

Danault centered one of the best 5v5 lines last year, and he has two greedy youngsters competing for his spot. Centre won't be an issue this year.

Evans plays over Weal, who is most likely traded or sent down to play a 22-men roster. As for the D-pairs, keep Chiarot and Weber together, play Romanov with Petry and Edmundson with Mete, he works well with a big guy otherwise he gets destroyed.

Also Byron likely edges Lehkonen for the 3rd line LW because 1 he is faster and 2 he is a proven 20+ goal scorer and with Taffoli or Anderson on RW and KK at center he makes that line more dangerous. Either way you can't really go wrong. You could also see Armia moved to the third line with Taffoli on the left and Byron on the 4th line. There are just so many options with this lineup it is exciting.

Exactly, even if I give the edge to Lehkonen as the better player overall, he's better in a defensive role than Byron, while Byron is better in an offensive role. Indeed, it is exciting, we're far from these days : https://twitter.com/JohnLuTSNMtl/status/934446882520227840?s=20

i like Montreal this year and they dont need to have a star player just because of the depth on the team but still dont understand the anderson contract????