You cant not like the goaltending and the defense looks real good, and Brown/Zboril are good depth....BUT:

A real good 2-4th Center do not make a good 1-3rd line centers, just not sold on Zacha as a quality 1C
the second line is big but maybe a bit slow, and not sure if theres enough creativity for 2 shooters on that line with coyle, JVR and debrusk
4th line should be fine in limited minutes, but probably pretty average, like to see them try a youngster like Lycksell in bottom 6

But overall at forward its looking like a one line team potentially, which is worrying...

If a prospect like Lysell or Merkulov could come up and provide some offense on the second/third line that would be huge for us but that seems like very wishful thinking

Boqvist career faceoff being below 40% likely excludes him from full time center role. That will likely go to Beecher or Brown.

I doubt they keep Greer over Lauko. Lauko is not waiver exempt and surely would be claimed. Greer could be claimed as well but Lauko is just the better player, now and long term.

Having not returned Poitras for the start of the OHL season don’t be surprised if they give him a 9 game look to start the year,

Mitchell has been steady, something Zboril has never been. Has history with Monty and 350k cheaper. Will be surprised if he is not the 7th D man. That 350k does not sound like much but with the right combo of players it’s enough to allow them a 23rd player at league minimum. Another option…Lohrei plays his way into the lineup. Less likely but not far fetched. He plays LD3 with Forbort/Shatty as RD3/7th. Forbort plays his offside well enough. I don’t see them moving Grizz or Forbort to make room for Lohrei in case it does not work out, they would be wothout a fallback option.


Let me be clear, this is not going to happen, however…based on merit this far…this should be the opening night roster with Heinen singing 1 year league min.

Marchy-Coyle-Debrusk
JVR-Zacha-Pasta
Freddy-Poitras-Geekie
Looch-Beecher-Lauko
Boqvist-Heinen

Lindholm-Mac
Lohrei-Carlo
Grizz-Forbort
Mitchell

Ully-Sway


This team is 53,334 over the cap. Solved by sending Beecher down and Brown stays up during Poitras 9 game stint.

Shatty, Zboril, Greer placed on waivers. If they get through…great…if not…oh well.

Not sure how they swing it, but not having a good 1st line center might be difficult, and acquiring him under the cap even more so.

Wonder if CGY would deal UFA to be in Lindholm for a package of picks and a cap hit (Coyle and a 1st and 2 2nds for Lindholm retained - have none in 2024)? Or if Couturier is back, which it sounds like he is, (but a huge long term contract) Couturier and Seeler from PHI for Coyle or Swayman and Forbort and a pick?

Zacha is a good quality 2C, Coyle is an okay 2C, but an excellent 3C, and geekie might be an okay 3C, but probably a great 4C. Its just with so few picks and prospects, theres little high end coming up in the system and not enough $$$ being freed up in expiring contracts to get a 1C and still have a good lineup. JVR, DeBrusk, Lucic and grelzcyk aren;t bad, but for the money I'm not sure you get better in a "cap jump", thats 4 guys making 10mil that are expiring