Quoting: Claesson4Norris
I kinda get the feeling MDZ isn't gonna play opening night. DJ moved away from MDZ-Zaitsev very quickly (they were awful) and he was outside the top 3 pairs with practice lines. Chabot-Zub and Holden and Zaitsev are all confirmed to be part of that lineup, and Mete was paired with Zaitsev while J.Brown was with Holden.
Chabot-Zub
Brannstrom-Holden
Mete-Zaitsev
Del Zotto-Brown
This is the best possible defense with what we have. Not sure how long it'll take to realize it but last season I was SHOCKED that it took 9-10 games to include Artem Zub in the line up. Brannstrom too, but at least there was an excuse as he had covid coming back from Europe.
Quoting: sensonfire
I do find it a bit confounding that Pierre Dorion would sign MDZ to a multi-year extension and then DJ scratches him for opening night.
Nothing confounding... Dorion is still a bit out of his league as a GM. He was a pretty good scout though, but Bryan Murray's health kinda gave him this opportunity too fast. He should have been an AGM longer.
The 2 moves that shocked me right away last offseason was Stepan (for a 2nd instead of a camp dump?) and Balcers (why waive a guy that always looked like a NHL player?)
This season, not as outrageous but Del Zotto signing and Sanford acquisition were a bit puzzling to me. Plus not acquiring a decent/good RW and a decent/good RD
Stepan c0ck-blocked Logan Brown at the beginning of last season (and he was terrible) so on top of giving up a 2nd round pick, Logan Brown's value plummeted completely to the point that he was traded for a below average bottom-6 winger.
Will it be a similar story this season with Del Zotto and Brannstrom? His value is already going down... but yeah, Dorion doesn't seem to understand "asset management" at all.