Boeser

Strome for Boeser

I'll make it three on a match -- Brock Boeser.

I’d definitely move him for Boeser, but honestly I’d probably move him for less. ANA is now loaded at C, and he hasn’t played as well on the wing. Not a big deal this year, but concerning for the term

As a VAN fan, I’d do Strome for Boeser. I’m not a huge strone fan, I also think Boes gets more hate than appropriate. But good lord is VAN thin down the middle.

I'm thinking Leo plays in the S or the A this year, probably he makes the team next season unless the team thinks he needs another year to develop his skating. Then he plays on the wing for a year, maybe two. That takes us to the end of Stromes deal.

Not saying we should hold him all 4 more years, but I think Leo would have to pull a Mason about exceeding all expectations.

I also like the idea of Mason taking on a Henrique like role, being able to move from 1LW to 3C depending on the needs of the game.

That still doesn’t account for Lundestrom or Gaucher getting time at center except at 4C though, which isn’t much toi to develop. I’d imagine by just ‘24-‘25 we’ll have Z at 1C, Strome and McTavish capable of 2C, Leo, Lundestrom, Gaucher all capable of 3C. That’s a bit of a logjam

Right, forgetting to mention, I think the centers next season are Zegras-Strome-Lundestrom-BOG/someone

I think McTavish moves to the wing and we run a TMZ line. Gaucher is only entering the AHL this year, likely needs a year or two seasoning, and even then, he would be great at 3RW or 4C.

The only guys who are really natural Cs who's play suffers when they move to the wing are Zegras, Lundestrom, and Strome. The other guys are pretty flexible.

I agree with almost all of that, which is why I had said we shouldn’t be in a rush to move Strome now, but would be happy to because in a couple years time he’ll be more of a blocker.

That said, while I fully agree on Gaucher in the AHL and Leo in SHL or AHL, I do think it’d be good to keep developing McTavish down the middle. I’d like to see all of Z, McTavish, Lunde get center time this year. I get that McT has proven flexible, but I’m not convinced that limiting him to wing time is best for his long term development. Carlsson McTavish Gaucher down the middle would be a nasty group for other teams to have to deal with a few years down the road

My issue is given the choice between Zegras and McTavish at C, I'd put Zegras. He really needs that open ice to open up his offense, he has his wings clipped when he has to play along the boards. I agree McTavish should continue to cross train, but I think in a world where we have a lundestrom who could push for 2C on some teams with some more time, that the need to run McT Z and Leo all at center isn't necessary, someone's got to move to the wing, especially since the notable subtractions this year will both technically be wingers.

At this point we're going to end up with two centers on every line no matter what we do.

Agree with with Z being better in the middle and the last point about multiple centers on each line. Lunde has a lot more to prove for me to call him a 2C though, and more importantly Strome isn’t the future for us. Which is why I’d like McTavish to keep developing as a C until someone in our youth supplants him (like Leo). I don’t want to sacrifice his center development on account of Strome or a less skilled C option like Lunde

Maybe Pageau for Garland.