Why are you scratching Turris? If the preds keep him, they will play him.

I am scratching Turris because in my eyes he is one of the worst players on this team. Maybe this coming season will be bounce back to a solid third line center. But as of right now, I am higher on everyone that I have placed in the lineup (for various reasons) than I am of Turris.

What has Tolvanen done to deserve a spot on the second line?

Turris has several 50 point seasons under his belt. Can’t say that about anyone else in the bottom 6 and tolvanen hasn’t proven a thing in the nhl.

Turris had one bad, injury-riddled season. He has had 4 50+ point seasons over the past 6 seasons and had 42 points in 65 games as a Predator just one year ago. Out of all of the so called worst contracts that I see him compared to (Neal, Erikkson, Lucic, etc.), he is the one with the most potential to bounce back, I think. He should be given some linemates that can help get him back to form, not sitting on the bench.

Tolvanen has a lethal shot and for a team that was absolutely anemic on the power play and bottom half of the league in goal scoring, someone with Tolvanen's scoring ability could greatly improve those stats. Give him a chance with a playmaker like Duchene who can feed him the puck in all sorts of creative ways and there may be something there. And as a general rule, for the beginning of the season I would personally always give a player with a higher potential a shot at cracking the top 6 rather than give the guy who you know can play 4th line just kinda be there and do 4th line stuff.