He's more talented that Manning or Schultz, but that doesn't mean he's going to make the team. Streit is a proven veteran NHL defenseman. Provorov is not.
- MJL

I play Provorov in my third pair with Streit.

MDZ - Gudas
AMac - Ghost (were good together late last season)
Streit - Provorov

Let Schultz be 7 and Manning is LV bound until a trade happens.

Edit: I can't believe I used the word good when discussion Amac

I play Provorov in my third pair with Streit.

MDZ - Gudas
AMac - Ghost (were good together late last season)
Streit - Provorov

Let Schultz be 7 and Manning is LV bound until a trade happens.

Edit: I can't believe I used the word good when discussion Amac
- dragonoffrost

I'd switch out Amac for Manning and roll with it. Schultz is good in the pressbox

Your PKers are MDZ, Gudas, Manning, Provorov

MDZudas-Ghoudas
Provorudas-Gudas

Top 4 must be this. Put AMac/Schultz with Streit. But really I want Morin there.

He does when you consider the year he came off (Which Hexy talks of factoring in) of and his overall growth chart as a player. He's on to the next step.

It is not a smoke and mirrors camp, preseason games. If he proves he's better than other Dmen in camp and the preseason, it's because he is based off recent success regardless of the level of play
- Just5

He has to earn a spot in camp, and he hasn't proven he's an NHL defenseman, or that he's better than anyone yet. Way too early for that.

I play Provorov in my third pair with Streit.

MDZ - Gudas
AMac - Ghost (were good together late last season)
Streit - Provorov

Let Schultz be 7 and Manning is LV bound until a trade happens.

Edit: I can't believe I used the word good when discussion Amac
- dragonoffrost

Manning may not make it to LV.

I think the best team they could ice would include Konecny playing with Giroux and Voracek.

Not sure Konecny is ready for 82 games at the NHL level yet though.

I don't see an issue either with Konecny playing third line minutes and 2nd PP. It won't hurt his development playing ~ 14 minutes a night, but again he's pretty young and likely will hit a wall at some point in the season.

I'm very excited to watch him, but I really think he is going back to Jrs this season.

He has to earn a spot in camp, and he hasn't proven he's an NHL defenseman, or that he's better than anyone yet. Way too early for that.
- MJL

Yes he has...he's better than Schultz, Manning, Amac etc. He's proven it

Yes he has...he's better than Schultz, Manning, Amac etc. He's proven it
- Just5

I think he does. He's 22, signed his contract when he was 18, and has played 70 games. Doesn't that make him eligible? If not, how is Cousins eligible?
- jmatchett383

You have to play 160 games, or complete five seasons if you signed at 18. Cousins signed at 19 so he lost his waiver-exempt status after four seasons.

https://www.capfriendly.c...calculator/scott-laughton

He may make the team, but he is not locked in yet. A 19 year old player doesn't make an NHL team after a few weeks of camp, and couple of pre season games against non NHL level competition.
- MJL

No he doesn't...but you can't discount the other times he's been evaluated, such as in juniors and the World Junior tournament. Guaranteed that factors into the decision making process.

He has to earn a spot in camp, and he hasn't proven he's an NHL defenseman, or that he's better than anyone yet. Way too early for that.
- MJL

When the competition ramps up...it is going to ramp up for the 34 yoa Schultz, for the AHL/NHL tweener AMac's and Mannings, as well as for Provorov. They will all be looked at.

Manning may not make it to LV.
- MJL

Then Morin is the next up.

- MJL

i having difficulty with this one because several people thought Provorov was NHL ready last season. An opinion may have little weight, but he answered with a phenomenal season, arguably showing he's too good for that level/league. On top of that, defense is our weakest area, and Provorov could certainly contribute to strengthen it. Two different types of defenseman, but look at the impact Ghost had for us last season? Not saying Ivan will be flashy or be netting goals left and right like Ghost, especially since Ivan's game is more all-around skill, but I do think Provorov can help us in a more positive way compared to a player such as Schultz, or at least equal his veteran contributions.

MDZudas-Ghoudas
Provorudas-Gudas

Top 4 must be this. Put AMac/Schultz with Streit. But really I want Morin there.
- Mononoke

patience

Weise isn't being bumped down to 4RW. They signed him to a 4 year deal with the intention of being 3RW. With such a logjam, you can see why that was maybe a curious signing (and I don't dislike him), but I don't think he's going anywhere.
- Mononoke

Yep, I agree.

I don't think there will be a huge gap in ice time between the 3rd and 4th lines. But I think the Cousins line and the Bellemare line will be used differently.

Send the 3rd line out to take advantage of secondary scoring opportunities, and send the 4th line out to contain the secondary offense of the other teams.

well maybe I am wrong I don't remember Laughton ever being highly touted. Again could be wrong wasn't draft reports saying tops out as 3rd line type?

He doesn't help a team if he doesn't make said team. Him sitting in the press box does nothing as well. Right now laughton is a dime a dozen player you can find anywhere.
- rinaldo

He was a first-round pick, CSS had him ranked 28th in NA skaters, which probably is late 1st/early 2nd round material. He didn't come in with the same fanfare as McDavid, but he wasn't some unknown reach either. He was taken 3rd overall in his OHL draft year and played for Canada at the WJC. Again, people weren't breaking down doors to grab him, but he was a very legit NHL prospect. The knocks on him were his skating and his stick-handling. His strengths were his shot, passing, and his work ethic.

So he's a dime-a-dozen player? So you see no difference between Laughton, Van de Velde, and Jesse Winchester (age aside)? I think he's got much more value than those types of players.

I don't think there will be a huge gap in ice time between the 3rd and 4th lines. But I think the Cousins line and the Bellemare line will be used differently.

Send the 3rd line out to take advantage of secondary scoring opportunities, and send the 4th line out to contain the secondary offense of the other teams.
- Feanor

I think Bellemare is a wing this season. Gordon will center line "4"

He's more talented that Manning or Schultz, but that doesn't mean he's going to make the team. Streit is a proven veteran NHL defenseman. Provorov is not.
- MJL

You're absolutely right. However, he can't be a proven NHL defenseman until he's given a chance to be an NHL defenseman.

Also, while I don't think he's done enough to earn an opening night roster spot, in your opinion, what specifically would he have t do between now and the end of camp/preseason to make the roster? I mean, if he plays exceptionally well in every game, at what point has it been enough to earn a roster spot?

He was a first-round pick, CSS had him ranked 28th in NA skaters, which probably is late 1st/early 2nd round material. He didn't come in with the same fanfare as McDavid, but he wasn't some unknown reach either. He was taken 3rd overall in his OHL draft year and played for Canada at the WJC. Again, people weren't breaking down doors to grab him, but he was a very legit NHL prospect. The knocks on him were his skating and his stick-handling. His strengths were his shot, passing, and his work ethic.

So he's a dime-a-dozen player? So you see no difference between Laughton, Van de Velde, and Jesse Winchester (age aside)? I think he's got much more value than those types of players.
- jmatchett383

so he was a 1sdt rd pick, that equates to him being highly touted? Sorry he was not highly touted in any way, shape, or form. In fact wasn't it even said he was picked to early, a little bit of a reach? Memory is a little fuzzy on that but think it was said.

Right now yes he is a dime a dozen player. How on earth can you even argue otherwise? Not talking about his value or what he will become in the future.

Yes there is a diff, he still has some potential where those 2 don't.

so he was a 1sdt rd pick, that equates to him being highly touted? Sorry he was not highly touted in any way, shape, or form. In fact wasn't it even said he was picked to early, a little bit of a reach? Memory is a little fuzzy on that but think it was said.

Right now yes he is a dime a dozen player. How on earth can you even argue otherwise? Not talking about his value or what he will become in the future.

Yes there is a diff, he still has some potential where those 2 don't.
- rinaldo

Okay, we're done here. Let's just agree to disagree and move on.

No he doesn't...but you can't discount the other times he's been evaluated, such as in juniors and the World Junior tournament. Guaranteed that factors into the decision making process.
- aantny88

There's no question it does, Hexy has mentioned it. It is not exactly a blank slate for these players coming into camp.

Trade everyone, fire the coach and GM, they all suck!!!

Oh wait, I thought this was the Leafs thread.

There's no question it does, Hexy has mentioned it. It is not exactly a blank slate for these players coming into camp.
- Just5

Exactly...people espousing nonsense that it all depends solely on how a player performs in preseason games and training camp is ridiculous!

Trade everyone, fire the coach and GM, they all suck!!!

Oh wait, I thought this was the Leafs thread.
- BiggE

Well it did land them Auston Matthews, the 2nd coming of...oh wait, I forgot Edmonton got McJesus already.