Funksoljah
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 1,222
Couple of things. The bottom 6 seems relatively weak outside of Norris. Steel, Drouin, and Milano aren't very good defensively along with Hoglander still trying to put it together. Hawlyruk is basically a replacement level player so relying on him as a fulltime player is also risky.
Where is Formenton? He's not on the roster or involved in any trades.
Relying on a rookie to be a top 4 Dman right out of the gate can also be risky. If he struggles you're looking at Brannstrom in your top 4 which probably isn't ideal. Also who takes the heavy defensive minutes? Losing Zub might hurt in that department especially on the PK.
Lastly, Yandle.... if someone gets injured and Yandle is playing minutes you may as well roll with 5 Dmen with how badly he played last season.
I think this would be a playoff team, but I don't know that they would beat teams like Tampa or Carolina to contend for a cup.
Getting rid of the trade for Keller and using that money to have Pinto and Formenton in your bottom 6 would probably make some more sense. Hamonic would also be a better option for the 7th Dman than Yandle.