no way barry trotz puts perfetti on the top line

2 defenseman under the age of 24 and a 21 YO on the top line isn’t Trotz style

Doubt he plays Wheeler there. Wheeler costs the team in a top line role. Maybe he shuffles the lines around and has Wheeler on the 2nd line, which I’m okay with. I’m not glued to the idea of perfetti on that line.

While trotz does favour vets, he also gives young guys a shot as long as they are doing well and don’t cost the team. Perfetti and Samberg proved they do that this year. Keep in mind that trotz has developed some young guys in the league in Dobson (though he was in the doghouse for a bit), beauvillier, teows, etc. Trotz doesn’t give young guys more of a chance because they are young, but he does give them a chance to help the team win. If they can do that, they stay in.

My worry would be that heinola would be in the doghouse because he can sometimes cost the team. However, in a 3rd pair role he will do more good than bad. However, I see him as a strong possibility of being in the doghouse.

Severson trade is an overpayment for a rental. 1 and Demelo should be plenty, trading Chibrikov isn’t necessary considering his high ceiling.

Trotz used Bailey in a top line role and he’s a lot worse than wheeler. Unfortunately if Trotz becomes jets HC I am 99% sure Wheeler will be on the top line. Trotz can’t help himself - the fact that Wheeler is the captain and he’s 35 YO will be too much for Trotz to look past.

Trotz main issues are with young forwards + defenseman under 6’0. Trotz might be the worst coach in the league when it comes to developing young forwards. Beauvillier and Barzal were already established, there was nothing Trotz could do, but if you have to go through Trotz to become a regular that’s when it’s a problem. Trotz buried Vrana , Burakovsky, Filip forsberg, radulov (left to the KHL 2x because of Trotz) , Wahlstrom etc. trotz plays guys who he respects (vets) not the players who give the team the best chance to win

I think Samberg makes the team and Heinola goes to the AHL or 7D. Trotz hates small defenseman.

Does Logan Stanley even play in the NHL

How about a 5th for Stanley, certainly not a 2nd geez

Vesalainen doesn't hold much value, but if Lavoie is a change-of-scenery guy (I don't know much about him) like Vesalainen, then ok. If Lavoie is a quality prospect, then I doubt EDM does that.

We could re-sign Alex Edler for about half of Nate Schmidt's cap hit, and we would probably get the same results without having to expend assets to acquire a 31-year-old veteran LD.

Play... yes.
Play well... did anyone mention that he is 6'7" 😉

Imaging being Ehlers who after been kept off of the 1st line the past two seasons because of Wheeler-Maurice, gets leapfrogged by 18-game NHL veteran Perfetti on the depth chart.

It wouldn’t be about being leap frogged. It’s about making a balanced lineup. Of course if I’m putting 1 line together I put ehlers there…