Yeah, that's completely fair. Just looking for guys who might have some upside in Hynes's system...

I'd also see if a good package of picks wouldn't get Fowler. Wouldn't kill us to trade a first and we have two second rounders next year thanks to Boston...
- Queenie_5_hole

thank you Boston

I don't even want Cam Fowler. The Ducks can have him. He's "good" offensively... a 3-4 guy but he is garbage defensively right now. That's why they want to move him right now anyway.

It's too bad we couldn't get our grubby hands on Trouba. He's a very good defenseman on a bad team (kind of like Larsson was). If we got our hands on him, he might be almost as good defensively, if not better offensively.

If we stood pat where we are at I have been playing with possible line combos. Not trying to make a 1-2-3 lines, but more lines A-B-C to spread out the scoring. Also not taking Elias into account until confirmed as being ready.

Hall - Henrique - Bennett/DSP - Bennet played with Crosby so he can keep up if he can stay healthy. I also like DSP here for the same reason I list below - presence around the net.
Zacha - Zajac - Palmieri - Zajac and Palms had chemistry + Zacha could be a great combination.
Cam - JJ - DSP/Bennett - JJ can feed Cam and his bomb of a shot while DSP crashes the net and smashes in the rebounds.
Boucher - Fiddler - Blandisi - Not the ideal place for either winger but they do have a physical presence and will get experience. This would be a tough 4th line to play against.
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Ex: Kalinin/Kennedy - I liked both of these guys effort last year but likewise wasn't overly impressed either. Safe healthy scratches though. I do think JJ is better than Kalinin.

But now if they liked Zacha at third line center:

Hall - Henrique - Bennett/DSP
Boucher - Zajac - Palmieri - May be a better slot for Boucher and he seemed to do well on this line last year.
Cam - Zacha - DSP/Bennett - Zacha in between Cam and DSP would be a fast agressive line, tough to defend against on the rush. Zacha also has great hands and could feed some slick passes to Cam or bomb it in while DSP was charging the net like a bull.
Fiddler - JJ - Blandisi/Kennedy/Kalinin - Fiddler is listed as LW and Shero mentioned 'Hes good on the left side' Also would be a tough line to play against. In this scenario it may be better to let Blandisi work on his pro game for a few months in the AHL and be the first call up when an injury occurs.
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Kalinin/Kennedy

Greene-Severson/Lovejoy
Moore-Lovejoy/Severson
Merrill-Santini/Jacobs
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Helgeson

If they went a more traditional Top 6 - as per depth slot we would probably see something along these lines:

Hall - Henrique - Palmieri
Cam - Zajac - DSP
Boucher - Zacha - Bennett
Fiddler - JJ - Blandisi/Kennedy

or

Hall - Henrique - Palmieri
Cam - Zajac - DSP
Zacha - JJ - Bennett
Boucher - Fiddler - Blandisi/Kennedy

Devils definitely need another defenseman but I don't think they have the trade chips to bring in a Fowler or Shattenkirk. There are still some decent D-men available in FA. Luke Schenn maybe?
- NJDevils42630

No

Shattenkirk won't go for Fowler... he's almost a free agent while Fowler is Larsson's age and will be with his team for longer.

That's why there's a buyer beware on Shattenkirk in the first place.
- archromat

Shatenkirk is from Connecticut, so nj could be a good place for him to play. Probably grew up a rags fan though.