Joined: Sep. 2018
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 1,801
Some quickfire thoughts:
1. Too much for KJ, too little for Marchenko, too much for Tex, and just right for Chinakhov and Sillinger; but, we're talking random guesses, I'd be stoked about the Sillinger and Chinakhov extensions and all of those extensions are plausible.
2. I can't see ownership being stoked about shelling out on another UFA defenseman given how Severson has looked, I think Provorov is the placeholder for Mateychuk, and we just need to sign a veteran depth LD that can play 2nd or 3rd pair until Mateychuk is ready.
3. Start all the new kids in Cleveland, and I'd throw Jiricek down there to round out his game some more, too. Let him play there until he's ready to step into at least the 2nd pair at the NHL level forever. I'd let KJ play down there too to start the year; call it a rehab stint and make sure he's good to go, no sense in playing him in the bottom-6 when he could be getting top-6 minutes with Dumais/Brindley.
4. I think we should be looking at a 1-year deal for a UFA goalie, give Tarasov the net, and buyout Elvis ASAP. He's a good backup, but if he's convinced he's going to be a starter somewhere, that's an untenable relationship with the team. Let someone else pick him up for next year, best for all parties involved.
Overall, I agree, I don't think this team is going to see a major shakeup. Remove the pieces that haven't worked (Elvis, Provorov), sign some veteran help for cheap, let the kids develop, take another year to figure out who the core is going to be and form an identity around a solid leadership core, commit, and work toward a wildcard spot in 2026.