Sounds right. I'm personally convinced Big Mac will start in the A' regardless of anything, since he's waivers eligible and seemingly not ready yet. We'll definitely have space for him the next year, when Plekanec/Mitchell likely walks. I also see Hemsky possibly working very well with Plekanec... maybe on the third line, with Hudon up on 2nd? That would be a dream, but maybe they won't trust a rookie that much (they haven't in the recent past). As for Jerabek, I'm pretty confident it's either he makes the team or he walks right off back to the KHL. He didn't sign a PTO, he signed a contract, so if he's unhappy he just needs to bail ship. Thus, I think he'll make the cut (unless he looks really lost in training camp... that's why he's a wildcard). The question that arises is where he'll slot (I suggest Weber but we'll see if he can handle it) and if Schlemko will be a mainstay or if he'll be battling for a spot with Streit, Morrow, Davidson?

Given the amount of more competent bottom pairing defensemen, I think Morrow will be sent down, maybe even Davidson, and Streit will quite likely be a healthy scratch at that contract.

My opinion.

Thanks for your thoughts We_Want_The_Cup ... I think your right about McCarron but Hudon's new contract is a two-way in year one, but I really hoping he could put it together and stay consistent. I do feel for him to prove himself he needs more than 4th line minutes ... I think you could flip Danault and Pleky in the 2-3 hole ... I think Pleky will have a bounce back year and remain consistent for 82 games.
Finding a good fit for Weber could be interesting ... I don't see Alzner as a top pairing D-man he would work well with Petry ... but who do you put in that top spot with Weber, could be a rotating door to start the season.

1. For Hudon's 2-way contract, it's meaningless. Being one-way or two-way doesn't mean anything for waivers. It just means the Habs Organization could choose to pay Hudon less money if they send him down. I think we're at a place right now that we don't care about the money, we care about results. There's increasing unrest and grumbling in the Habs community, and MB is trying to keep his job.
2. Yeah, I hope Hudon lives up to his potential too. He looked real good when he was given that 3-game stint. Bummer he was sent down, though I'm convinced it was so he doesn't have to go through waivers and also because we don't want him to look too appetizing for Vegas expansion draft. Luckily, Emelin was plucked instead.
3. The Pleky bounce back is possible, and I think he'll actually have a slightly better season, but I highly doubt he'll return to previous form. He's better off now in a 3C shutdown role. I'll glad to take any contrary surprises though!
4. Completely agree with you here on both points about Weber and Alzner. I'm praying and crossing my fingers that Jerabek can fill that role, because his skills match it perfectly. He would be the mobile puck-mover, and Weber would be the hard-nosed punishing slapshot guy. If that doesn't work, we really don't have any other options, so it'll probably become Weber and Alzner (which is essentially Weber+Emelin 2.0). Fingers crossed someone surprises us!