Quoting: Green4D4Again
I think White is going to bounce back. He's 22 and was pretty decent at the tail end of last year. Injuries hurt his play time along with losing Mark Stone... I'm more worried about Logan's development. A lot of skill and size with that lad but the effort doesn't reflect it yet. Hopefully he smartens up... Norris has all the wheels and smarts to be a perfect 2-way second line center. Hopefully develops into a Cirelli style player for us with Stuetzle being Brayden Point 2.0 (albeit with a little more flash and skill to his game).
I believe there is an invisible "handshake" between Zub, D.J. and Dorion. He'll get the chance to start with Chabot/Brannstrom or you can say goodbye to signing any other high profile guy out of the KHL. It is likely that 1 of Brown, Guddy, Jaros or Reilly sit.
Nilsson is likely done if he's still feeling effects of a concussion (I've been in his position and I know numerous people who still have lingering effects of long-term brain injuries). When you are his age with his responsibilities (i.e. family with child), all of a sudden, you're career is the last thing on your mind... Hopefully he recovers because it's a **** way to live. Think of the Human...
All in all, if everything goes right, we should see at the very least big jumps from the young guys this year (if there is a year).
It'll be interesting to see what Murray looks like. I'm hoping we see a return to form to what we saw in the 2017... nightmares I tell you... nightmares.
I agree, I think White should bounce back and even improve. The question is, is he a 1C or a 2C? Worst case he’s a third liner, either C or RW, but for 4.75mil you want him in the top 6. The issue is I don’t see him being more than a Backlund-esque second line centre (maybe a little higher offensive upside than Backlund, but I don’t know if he’ll hit 60 points regularly, if at all). Norris I agree will be a very solid 2C, I see a higher offensive upside for him (65+ pt guy regularly?) while still having a solid 2-way game. The big question mark is whether or not one of L. Brown or Stutzle can claim the 1C job. Both have 1C potential, but both might have issues getting there.
I don’t know if there’s a handshake deal tbh, and as long as he’s given a fair shot in camp to make the team it should be fine. It seems weird to give up picks for J. Brown and Gudbranson only to scratch one.
Nilsson’s management should 100% be determined by his health, we don’t really need him on the ice and his brain and future are far more important regardless.
I agree it’ll be fun to watch them develop and hopefully achieve their potential over the next couple years!
I think Murray will be able to do better with less pressure and a fresh start. He might not put up much better stats this year cuz our defense sucks, but long term we have some rock solid defenders coming (JBD and Sanderson should debut mid-season in 21-22, or at the latest out of camp in 2022, Kleven’s an option for the 3rd pair but that’ll likely be in 3-5 years) so that might help too. Hopefully in 4 years Sogaard or Gustavsson are the starter anyway lol
As for Seattle we probably lose Balcers, Jaros, or Gustavsson... I’m worried about losing Gustavsson because I don’t view Hogberg or Daccord as NHL starter material and we’d be relying fully on Sogaard developing to that point as our only legitimate long term starter option (if Mandolese or Merilainen turn into a starter that’d be great but shouldn’t be necessarily counted on). Not gonna lie, I wouldn’t be opposed to giving up Abramov to ensure they take Lajoie or something, both are expendable at this point imo (assuming both have an average AHL season, if Abramov lights it up he might turn into a piece we want to keep). Not gonna lie, unless he lights it up, I’d even be down to deal Daccord to facilitate taking Lajoie (give Seattle some AHL depth and open up a spot for Sogaard or Mandolese in 21-22). I just really am opposed to losing Gustavsson right now, he’s gaining some confidence in the second Swedish league, hopefully he turns that into a good year in the AHL and becomes the stud prospect he should be.
Quoting: sensibleguy
I just tagged everyone for my response.
The thing with White is, who would he replace in the top6? That’s what makes him the 3C, not his sophomore slump. If they switched Stuetzle to centre, it unbalances the top6. With Stuetzle and Tkachuk, it’s a very strong left side. In fact all four wingers in the top6 belong there, legitimately.
The player lost to expansion, if it’s a forward, is replaced by Abramov, and then someone gets replaced by Pinto., if it’s a D, there’s lots of upcoming talent there, and if it’s a goalie, the next one in line moves up.
I think our left side is fine regardless, I view Formenton as a capable 2LW behind Tkachuk, who is clearly a 1LW, so if Stutzle can be a 1C I would rather try him there (plus we have Jarventie 3 years out for 2LW). Norris is fine for 2C and then L. Brown is a wildcard, him and White could both be 1C or 3C. It’s tough because I don’t think White is really a 1C and I don’t know if Brown will reach his 1C potential. As far as White getting pushed out, I think there’s room for him this year, as he only has to beat one of Tierney or L. Brown (and Tierney I don’t think will be played on the main scoring line over those two). In 21-22 I don’t see him being top 6 when we have Tkachuk, Stutzle, Dadonov, Batherson, Formenton, Norris, and L. Brown for competition, so either him or Tierney gets traded next offseason and the other will be 3C as long as L. Brown doesn’t bust. See above for my comments on expansion, basically the only guy I don’t want to lose is Gustavsson.