If mittelstadt takes a step, we should have 2 competent scoring lines. Not crazy about the 3rd line, but unless you switch vesey and okposo, theres gonna be limits to what you can do. I read that veseys defensive metrics are near the bottom of the league for forwards, which is not great if hes playing on a line that wont chip in much offense. Botterill brought in vesey so it doesnt seem likely he would want him buried on the 4th line. My only thoughts on the d is that ristolainen seemed to play his best hockey with pilut. Hopefully theres some guys in rochester knocking at the door- jokiharju, asplund, maybe even thompson. Wouldnt hate seeing cozens get 9 games, but there is gonna have to be roster movement or injuries if we are gonna see them.

I don't quite agree with your assessment on the 3rd line. I know some fellow fans will bend over backwards and praise E-Rod to ungodly levels but to me, he is an ideal 3C. He is great defensively and can really make plays. Then you bring in Vesey, who is capable of scoring a 5v5 very well. That's the missing element that E-Rod needed in a linemate, when compared to Sobotka or Thompson or Pominville (I now he's not that terrible.. but Pommers really excelled in the top 6 for us and that's about it). E-Rod can make up all the leg work for Vesey. Sheary is a question mark in a 3rd line setting but it could be interesting. He also knows how to score, and I don't believe I've seen any serious defense lapses from him.. he can't be worse than Vesey in that regard. Overall, I'm not saying our 3rd line is top 5.. hell not even top 10. But it's a lot better than last year and it won't be our detriment, it will help the team out.