Defense is definitely risky, but maybe it will click unexpectedly. Having a couple new experiences faces could help.

What I don't think will work, is continuing to rely so heavily on the bottom 6 to cover defense. More balance to give the bottom 6 an opportunity to contribute, less reliance on the top 6 starting their shifts in the offensive zone and scoring 3 or 4 goals a game.

Can be a bit more positive. Keith isn’t going to be the Keith of 5-6 years ago but he’s going to be better in Edmonton than in Chicago just because he will have more skilled players around him. It’s very safe to assume he will be better than jones who I did like. Ceci signing I’m really not big on but if he ends up on third pair that’s not the end of the world that just means bouch stepped up and is doing well. We can afford Ceci on third pair for a couple years it’s not like we have a third pair we need to heavily shelter and limit minutes. Barrie I truly don’t get why people are hard on him guy puts up insane points from the blue line and of course he’s not a defensive stud if he was plus puts up the points he does would be 11-12 million dollar player and we wouldn’t have any chance of having him. Smith will likely drop in play a little that’s fine don’t rule out kosk having a great year he’s fully capable of it. Just keep in mind a year ago everyone wanted kosk to be given full time starter job and smith be shown the door. Smith bounced back strong who’s to say kosk can’t do the same.

5.5 for hyman is not high at all lol.

Hyman is an overpay at $5.5m but Yamamoto at $2.5m isn’t. Yamo is barely worth $1.5m.

Keith is older, but knows not to fire Bear/Jones pizzas up the middle of the ice which end up in the back of the net. Huge win for the development of all other five D, especially Nurse and Bouchard.