If Merkulov gets a run with the big boys, I imagine he'll be on 2LW/3LW duty. I know he's been trying to improve his defensive game, but putting him at 2C seems like a little too much "fun". I wouldn't be surprised to see Lauko get some spot duty with the other Czechmates over the course of the season.

Marchand and Debrusk are both so good defensively that I think it could maybe work, with any other wingers I wouldn't even think about Merk at center yet.

Regardless I hope at least by the end of the season we have youth spread into the lineup like this. Not a hot take to say this current roster isn't winning the cup, they need to use this season to find out what they have in some guys. Throw Lysell on the 3rd line instead of JVR as well if he goes off in Providence.

I’m curious as to why you infused youth into every forward line but kept them out of the 3rd defence line?

cause I made this roster really quickly and forgot to replace Forbort with Lohrei.