Quoting: csick
JBD and Thomson will get there. Sanderson is coming. They’ll be fine. All these guys are just stop gaps and will help us get 1 more elite forward in the draft
I can't imagine Ottawa will go that young that fast on the blueline. Even if Lassi Thomson plays the entirety of the rest of this season (I would be shocked if he did), that would still be three players with less than 100 games combined.
Sanderson I have absolutely no concerns about at all. He's a star, and I think he's capable of coming in right away and being a top 4 all situation Dman. That said, I don't think it's wise to just throw him in right away into that role with another young guy still basically getting his footing in the NHL. Presumably you'll still want a more established guy to help settle him in. Now, that can be Zub, but that still leaves a question mark beside Chabot, and I'm not at all convinced they'd be eager to put one of Thomson or Bernard-Docker in that role out of the gate. Again, if Lassi ends up continuing his stretch of play over the rest of this season that conversation is different, but assuming that will be the case is extremely optimistic.
At the very least, there's simply no chance of a Defense like that working under the current coach.
I imagine they will have Sanderson in the 2LD spot, and whichever of Thomson or Bernard-Docker performs better between now and the start of next season, with the other starting in Belleville (Neither will be harmed by another season in Belleville). Brannstrom I think is all but gone unfortunately, so they'll need a guy to play 3LD (I'd be fine with Holden next year, but they could certainly do better. De Haan?) and someone who can play either with Sanderson or Chabot. Maybe if they could get him on a short term deal a guy like Colin Miller?
Maybe something like:
Chabot-Zub
Sanderson-C.Miller
De Haan-Thomson