Simpleton
Rejoint: juin 2017
Messages: 1,365
Mentions "j'aime": 502
With Nygard signed for next season, I am not sure that Holland will bring Ennis back if the player's salary demands are too great. I think $2,500,000 is too much salary for a 2-year deal. I also believe Archibald will be the 3RW and if Khaira isn't moved he will centre Neal and Chiasson on a heavy 4th line (just as Tippett had them deployed just before the last season ended.
Signing Lagesson and then acquiring Reilly makes no sense. I'm sure Holland will be trying to trade Russell, but he will be looking for draft picks, a serviceable veteran depth forward, or a middling forward prospect in return. He has to do something about the build-up of Russell, Green, Benning, Lagesson, eventually Bouchard and Lennström, and possibly Samorukov. Moving Russell allows him to resign Benning and sign Lagesson as the 7th guy. That gives Holland some protection during the upcoming expansion draft.
My simple mind sees a scenario in which Russell goes to a budget team like Arizona in exchange for a player like Michael Grabner. Acquiring a player like Grabner allows Holland to move Khaira without diminishing the team's penalty killing depth. With Khaira gone, Holland can resign Sheahan, who is a more consistent player. A guy like Colin Wilson might get a PTO, and he could be a decent option if he can bounce back. Of course whether Holland chooses that path or not depends on what kind of returns he can get for assets like Puljujarvi, Kahaira, and Russell. Bear in mind that Haas quietly managed to have a strong showing as a defensively responsible centreman and may manage to bring more offense in his second NHL season.
Finally, I would not be surprised if Holland brought Smith back for another season.