I don’t know the consequences to LTIR if there are any, but I put Marchand on it because he comes back from injury after Grzelcyk and has a lower cap hit than McAvoy. Foligno won’t even be useful in the lineup so we trade him before the season but Marchand on LTIR allows us to keep Reilly for now. With this money, we can also keep extra pieces on the roster such as Greer, McLaughlin, and Carrick. Nosek stays for now because we can afford him. If Bergeron and Krejci sign for around a combined 8 or 9 million the money works.
The line combinations in the top 6 can go so many ways but the 1c is Bergeron and the 2c is Krejci. The top 6 winger candidates are Pastrnak, Hall, DeBrusk, Zacha, and maybe even Smith or Lysell if he makes the team. I think Hall and Pastrnak stay on the same line all year. I think we still need some more star power and play drivers on the wing for the first line so Pasta and Hall play with Bergeron. Krejci plays with his fellow countryman Zacha. DeBrusk reunites with Krejci but now on the right side. We keep the same third line as the end of last year. The 4th line should consist of some younger guys. Studnicka plays his natural center spot with Nosek as a good veteran on his left. McLaughlin seems to have more finish than Steen so he is on the right on line 4.
On defense, we try Zboril next to Lindholm. Meaning Reilly and Carlo reunite and so do Forbort and Clifton. Carrick is there as a 7th defenseman but Ahcan could take his place.
When Grzelcyk, McAvoy, and Marchand come back we clear out more money by trading Reilly, maybe Forbort, and maybe Nosek.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
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