DEADLINE: Acquire J.T. Miller or Patrick Kane 50% retained for our 1RW. Until then, Mangiapane can do the trick.
This is very much a defensive team, if Markstrom can play at all like he did in the 2021-22 regular season we could very well be last in goals against.
LINE 1: Huberdeau, Lindholm and Mangiapane aren't the greatest first line in the league, but they can play all ends of the ice and make plays with great efficiency.
LINE 2: Debrusk, Backlund and Toffoli. This also isn't picture perfect, the line may struggle to produce. But it is sufficient, and like the first line, can play all ends of the ice.
LINE 3: Pelletier is stupidly good, PPG in the AHL last year and will thrive with a healthy Monahan and Dillon Dube. You guessed it, this line can play all ends of the ice, and can produce much better than our third line last year.
LINE 4: Maybe the best fourth line in the league, Coleman can rough people up, play defense and score from time to time. Rooney is above average as fourth line centers go, and Ruzicka has a chance to move up the lines if he can prove himself as a great all around player like he has in the AHL.
DEFENSE: The lines are a toss-up, if not for Colorado this would be the best defense in the NHL by miles. Replacing Gudbranson with Weegar is a major upgrade, added to Kylington, Hanifin and Andersson all likely developing. Only "If" is Tanev's injury proneness, which may give Valimaki another chance at being an NHL defenseman.