at this point the Jackets have too much future defensive depth, and too much of the same. Way too much offensive D for as we've now seen, a horrendous defense. Ceulemans, Jiricek, Mateychuk, Svozil, Knazko, OBH, there's plenty. And trading either Boq/Ceulemans, RHD have more value.
As well as winger depth.
With China playing well, the possibility of Tex coming back in the future, Kent doing well, and clearly their want to play Olivier, what room is Marchenko going to have? Also, Rosy should not play center. Under 50% faceoffs, as well as low defensive effort. Maybe correlation to why he's scratched rn.
Now to counter that, obviously it seems their plan is to keep Marchenko around since he will outlast Voracek and Nyquist, but you must ask, what is the bigger need? Winger or center depth? The answer is center.
Now Boone's faceoff numbers are pretty good, but his analytics last year were 2nd worse defensively, only ahead of Laine. That's not what you want out of your 1C. And even then, he has played wing in his career. But slotting Boone at 2C would be an excellent choice as well. Kent is also interchangeable C/W, and since we've seen a bit of a sophomore slump from Sillinger, he may not be Top 6 ready just yet.
understand there may have to be some other moving pieces to get cap compliant for Zach returns, a Bo extension and Gav extension next year, but with Nyquist expiring, Gav in trade rumors, cap rising, it just may fit
If they couldn't pull the trigger on a package like this for Jack Eichel, I don't think they will do it for Horvat. He's a good player, I like him, but I don't think he's the guy the CBJ need. Who they need is Bedard of Fantilli. Short of that, they could try to sign someone in free agency over the summer or just let Johnson and Sillinger develop there.
I get frustrated as any with some of Larsen's roster decisions (inherited from Torts, unfortunately), but its sounding more and more like there is some tension with Rosy and the organization.
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