My opening lineup is…

Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson
DeBrincat - Stutzle - Giroux
Formenton - Pinto - Joseph
Kelly - Kastelic - Motte

Chabot - Hamonic
Sanderson - Zub
Brännström - Zaitsev

Talbot - Forsberg

Fairly realistic lineup.

Zaitsev in over Holden is nuts imo. Holden was Ottawa's 3rd best D last year.

That doesn't really say much if you look at our options after Chabot and Zub lmao. I'm sure Zaitzev would do a better job as a 3rd pairing defenseman than as a 1st pairing defenseman like he has been for a while. I'd take him over Holden no doubt

If that's what they're offering Formenton then it's no wonder he's still unsigned.
Look, either he's involved in the assault or not, if he is don't sign him. If he isn't he should be getting roughly the same deal as Mathieu Joseph.

Not giving him term regardless imo. He'll be easier to move next season as an RFA. they'll have to move him next year when they're cap crunched. I don't actually give a crap what his number is this year.

I'm so baffled at the lack of love for Formenton. The guy got more points than Batherson in his first 100 NHL games (not including PP time, because Formenton got none) while playing with far less talent. Last year was his first actual season and I think he's just scratching the surface of what he can do. If the speed of his hands inch even a little closer to the speed of his feet... oh man... he could really be deadly.