Like the Gusev idea. My only issue with the team looking like this is that that 3rd line is completely incapable of driving offense. Beauvillier needs someone to drive play for him in my opinion. Don't believe brassard (present day, ottawa brassard different story) is that answer.

Yeah, I agree the third line is sketchy compared to last season (I forgot to sign Dal Colle and Ho-Sang FWIW). Maybe Beau gets moved into the top 6 at some point or maybe a trade is made for a better 3C, I’m not sure. Perhaps Brassard experiences a renaissance kinda like Filppula did, but like I said with Spooner, you can’t sign him banking on that. It’s tough to say what road they’ll take

Admittedly, didn't read the thoughts above on those kinds of options at first. I think you raise some fair points.

There’s just no one out there rn. Johansson maybe, but he’s more of a wing than a center. Artem Anisimov could be a trade target, but he has the same issues Brassard does tbh.

It's sort of lofty, but my take would be to find a way to Take Eakin along with Gusev and match value there. Might have to trade Leddy or Hickey+Picks. I like eakin a lot, his cap hit doesn't totally suck. My logic behind why they would give up eakin is because they already have Stastney and Karlsson and I don't see Cody glass not being their 3rd line center this year. The downside is: They don't really have a true 4LC at the moment.

Yeah there would need to be very good pieces coming back for Gusev+eakin

Yeah it's not just gonna be like Hickey, Vande Sompel, and some 2 or 3 round picks. I don't think McPhee is going to give Gusev away for nothing and (even if Eakin isn't coming back after this season), don't think he's gonna send him for nothing either.

Absolutely not. I think this is all a tactic to drive his price down but let’s not pretend he was over a point a game in the last tourney and just set KHL records

At some point you have to give the kids a shot though. We have several young players who are NHL ready (Bellows, Ho-Sang, Wahlstrom (Possibly), Aho, Dobson, Wilde (possibly)), we don't need to be signing older, more expensive bottom 6 guys to take spots away from the kids.

Slide Cizikas up to the 3C (he's earned it) and have him play with Beau and Ho-Sang (if he's really given a chance this year) and have Fritz (Trotz really liked him last year) be your 4C with Martin and Clutter or Komarov if Clutter isn't ready. I know it sucks breaking up the "best 4th line in hockey" but Cizikas is the perfect 3C for this team and Martin and Clutter/Komarov can certainly pick up for a lesser a 4C in Fritz on that line.

Bellows, Wilde and Wahlstrom are all still a year out. Aho could be a trade chip, if not in my deal, perhaps in another. Ho-Sang I’m convinced gets traded during or after camp; Snow and Weight didn’t believe in him and Lamoreillo and Trotz don’t either. Doesn’t make it right though, I’d like to see him in the blue and orange full time. As for Dobson, he’s the only one I realistically see making the team. Only question is what do they do with everyone else? Scratching or trading Mayfield is an option, maybe the best option, but will they do that right away?

With Clutterbuck’s injury, the 4th line probably does get split up at first, but I really think it should stay together when he’s back. It was like a 4th defensive pair and excelled at shutting down team’s top lines, so ours could come in against weaker opposition. I think having them together with only benefit them more, when and if the offense improves

Bellows should have made the team out of camp last year and if we hasn't signed Komarov and/or Filppula (even though I like both guys last year) he probably would have, so if there is a spot for him I can see him making the team this year with another strong camp. Wahlstrom and Wilde, I'll agree with you will likely start in Bridgeport only because it's Lou and he likes to let guys develop, but strong camps from each of them could force the issue. Dobson has to make the team this year, he can't go to the AHL due to his age and he really has nothing left to prove in juniors. Both Lou and Trotz are high on Aho, which is why Leddy is on the block, well Toews has something to do with it as well, but moving Leddy clears a roster spot for Aho, Toews is already on the team.

I agree Ho-Sang is probably out the door, but it would be nice to see him play a full season with the Isles before that happens. If Dobson makes the team, then I can see one of Boychuk or, more likely, Mayfield being moved. Boychuk showed he could still play 2nd pair minutes last year, so Lou might sell a team on him before he regresses more. Mayfield is probably the most valuable piece to move after Leddy because of his contract and him showing he can handle a good number of minutes.

Cizikas, after last season, deserves to play with better wingers. I love the 4th line too, but Cizikas really is the perfect 3C for this team. Fritz, who Trotz is also high on, can slide into that 4C and play with Martin and Clutter (if healthy).