Rejoint: nov. 2016
Messages: 3,455
Mentions "j'aime": 1,624
As with any team there are a lot of question marks going into next season for the Isles, and I think they may be the hardest team to predict this year.
Coaching again will be critical to the teams success, and with a full year under Trotz do the young guys like Barzal, Pulock, Toews, Beau take a step forward this year producing more offense while continuing to play a good team structure. Does the older veterans that we rely on like Boychuk, Clutterbuck, Cizikas break down this year? Can Nelson show he really turned a corner last year to become a legit top-6 center? There are just a lot of questions and unknowns right now with the team.
At forward unless there is a signing or trade I would like to see them try a lineup somewhat close to this:
Lee-Barzal-Eberle (I like Lee with Barzal to open up room on the O-Zone and get in front of the net)
Beau-Nelson-Bailey
Dal Colle- Czizkas- Clutterbuck (I know breaking up the "4th" line is not ideal, but I think Cizikas and Clutter have some more offensive ability to show this year)
Martin-Fritz-Leo
Kuhnackhal- Rotate with Martin and Leo
Johnston- Not sure what to do with him anymore
Ladd- Is he even playing this year
The D pairing are more clear right now, and as much as I'd like to see Dobson in the lineup right now there is no room:
Pelech-Pulock
Leddy-Boychuk
Toews-Mayfield
Hickey
Goalie is a huge question mark, does the new system and Greco turn Varlamov into an All Star. Does he have injuries and we have to rely full time on Griess.
Varlamov
Greiss
What anyone says right now does not really matter, last year the Isles were supposed to be historically bad and one of the best years in a long time. So who knows right now, but I believe that they can make the playoffs, and with guys like Dobson, Wilde, Aho, Sorokin, Wahlstrom, Bellows, Koivula I am really excited about what the team could look like next year.