Too long and too much money for Scott Mayfield. Samuel Bolduc isn’t waiver exempt and has to be rostered. Wahlstrom isn’t getting 2.5 million after last season. Magnus Hellberg isn’t an NHL caliber backup. Fasching isn’t being healthy scratched for Cal Clutterbuck or Matt Martin.

Mayfield really took a dip this year in his production, they can find a better bottom pair D at a lower price via trade or FA

I like the Olofsson trade for both sides though

Mayfield will probably get more money than that (hopefully not from the Isles though).

It's wishful thinking to believe that Fasching would not be a scratch if Martin and Clutterbuck are healthy (which, at least in CC's place, is a big if).

Fasching was way better than both guys last year, and both the fans and coaching staff love him. He’s not starting as a scratch imo.

Oh I agree about Mayfield lol. I’d probably just start with Bolduc-Aho as the third pair tbh. Rather enter the year with five lefty d men when the alternative is signing Justin Holl lol.

If healthy, there's no way they break up the Cizikas-Martin-Clutterbuck line to start the season. Fasching will likely play quite a bit due to the inevitable injuries, but unless something goes terribly wrong this offseason and he's the top option at RW3, I'd be shocked if he's in the opening night lineup.

Someone is always hurt anyway. Let’s wait and see.

Yeah, there's a non-zero chance that Clutterbuck winds up needing another surgery or something and isn't ready to start the season. But if healthy there's no doubt in my mind that he's in the lineup at RW4 over Fasching on opening night.

Lane Lambert scratched Bailey at home for game 1,000. I think you are overestimating his loyalty to that group.

At no point were any of Cizikas/Martin/Clutterbuck healthy scratched last year. However, by the fancy stats, the fourth line was more effective with Fasching when Clutterbuck was injured (albeit with fewer defensive zone starts), so it would not be the worst thing in the world for Clutterbuck to sit. Again though, the "best fourth line in hockey" nonsense still seems to carry a lot of weight in the Isles org.