Quoting: EthanBearForVezina
Seems like we’re headed in that directions regardless.
No, I don't think that's the case unless one of the veterans get traded, which I don't think will happen. There are 5 returnees who are locks for NHL jobs: Klefbom, Nurse, Larsson, Benning and Russell. That leaves 1 spot open in the top-6 and the 7th man job, but Holland has been pretty steadfast that he doesn't want one of the rookies in that job. Right now there are 5 players vying for the final roster spots: Joel Persson, Evan Bouchard, Ethan Bear, Brandon Manning and William Lagesson. I'd say Persson is the most likely to win a top-6 role and Manning most likely to win the 7th man role.
Will there be more than one rookie on the roster as the season goes along? Of course, that was Holland's express reason for buying out Sekera - to open up space for the rookie defenders. But keeping both Benning and Russell means that the rookies are unlikely to be thrust into top-4 roles before they're ready.
Quoting: EthanBearForVezina
Benning has been outplayed by Bouchard, Bear, and Lagesson thus far.
I don't think Tippett will throw out 3 years of positive NHL results because Benning had 2 poor preseason games in a row.