Quoting: Opie
I've always liked Okhotyuk (& Vukojevic), hope to see him continue to develop and make an impact in NJ some day. I'm not sure about Walsh yet, I fear he may never pan out, but hope I'm wrong, NJ really could use more depth at RD in system.
With Holtz & Mercer, if you fear they may plateau or burn out, would likely be more be beneficial to start them in AHL & then call them up later, than the other way around. Either way, it will be interesting to track their season & how NJ handles them.
I'm also intrigued by Misyul. Never see much about the guy in NJ, but he's a big dude with some edge & continues to wrack up KHL minutes. I believe his contract is up end 22-23. By then he will be 22 years old with several KHL seasons under his belt. Not outrageous to think he could step right into a bottom pair role in NJ for 23-24 season next to a more offensive minded guy.
Quoting: kogger
Good points about them plateauing.. it would def keep them hungry and accelerate their development but who would your lines be?
Keeping up with the amount of LHD this organization has drafted is like a scavenger hunt lol
I think Walsh upside is still as bottom-pair NHL pmd. A righty Will Butcher, in a way. Better than Butcher will his legs moving, less creative standing still.
I have often felt Okhotiuk is a future 7th d-man, when physicality needs to be dialed up mid-season.
Vukojevic has a ways to go.
Misyul is appears to me like a wildcard.
I don't think any of these guys are on current track to take time away from Hamilton, Smith, Severson (if he stays), Bahl, Mukhamadullin or Luke.
Ethan Edwards may be easiest guy for me to project into top-6.
If I had to predict our blueline over next few years....(assumes Severson is resigned in 2023)
Start of 2021-22
Graves -- Hamilton
Smith -- Severson
Siegenthaler -- Subban
7th: Bahl/Jaros
Start of 2022-23
Graves -- Hamilton
Bahl -- Severson
Mukhamadullin -- Smith
7th: Siegenthaler/Okhotiuk/Walsh/McCarthy
Start of 2023-24
Smith -- Hamilton
Bahl -- Severson
Edwards -- Hughes
7th: Okhotiuk/Vukojevic/Walsh/McCarthy/Misyul
Start of 2024-25
Hughes -- Hamilton
Bahl -- Smith
Edwards -- Severson
7th: Vilen/Vukojevic/Walsh/Misyul