Michael Stuart: Lightning Drop Final Preseason Contest with Roster Cuts on the Horizon

i was hoping to find this out before I went to sleep tonight but it makes sense to make a decision tomorrow instead!

Here another question. Who gets the opening night start? After tonight.... Bishop.

Here another question. Who gets the opening night start? After tonight.... Bishop.
- Artyukhin76

ya I would say Bishop will get the start. I think both will play about 50/50 in october and november before one guy runs with the job.

Connelly, Druoin, Panik, Palat, Johnson stay. Pyatt and Crombeen are possible cuts to keep the youth movement. Killorn has had a quiet pre season I expected a little more from him. Barberio and Sustr are a toss up for the 7th Dman. Kucherov impressed as did JT Brown but maybe not enough yet. Tough call on a lot of these kids.

Wow, what an luxury problem the Bolts are faceing, but still a problem though. Connolly does deserve at spot after what hes shown during the pre-season. I honestly think that its Drouin who gets the axe, allthough a year in the juniors wont do him good. A year in the AHL would have been perfect..

RM-SS-MSL as first line, Purcell Connolly Killorn fighting for the second line wings. Syracruse line as third and Thompson-Pyatt-Crombeen as fourth should make up a pretty competitive team, allthough someone will se alot of the pressbox. Deepth in the roster is never a bad thing, although its not that good for the chemistry.

Cant wait til the puck drops, will be awesome to see the "new" bolts under Cooper. Also I would like to thank you Michael for giving a low market team as the Bolts an awesome blogger to follow. Been reading your stuff since you started here, and will try to get involved in as many discussions as possible.

Wow, what an luxury problem the Bolts are faceing, but still a problem though. Connolly does deserve at spot after what hes shown during the pre-season. I honestly think that its Drouin who gets the axe, allthough a year in the juniors wont do him good. A year in the AHL would have been perfect..

RM-SS-MSL as first line, Purcell Connolly Killorn fighting for the second line wings. Syracruse line as third and Thompson-Pyatt-Crombeen as fourth should make up a pretty competitive team, allthough someone will se alot of the pressbox. Deepth in the roster is never a bad thing, although its not that good for the chemistry.

Cant wait til the puck drops, will be awesome to see the "new" bolts under Cooper. Also I would like to thank you Michael for giving a low market team as the Bolts an awesome blogger to follow. Been reading your stuff since you started here, and will try to get involved in as many discussions as possible.
- Cloud

Druoin stays or goes to Juniors AHL not an option for him and a year more in juniors doesn't do him any good.

Wow, what an luxury problem the Bolts are faceing, but still a problem though. Connolly does deserve at spot after what hes shown during the pre-season. I honestly think that its Drouin who gets the axe, allthough a year in the juniors wont do him good. A year in the AHL would have been perfect..

RM-SS-MSL as first line, Purcell Connolly Killorn fighting for the second line wings. Syracruse line as third and Thompson-Pyatt-Crombeen as fourth should make up a pretty competitive team, allthough someone will se alot of the pressbox. Deepth in the roster is never a bad thing, although its not that good for the chemistry.

Cant wait til the puck drops, will be awesome to see the "new" bolts under Cooper. Also I would like to thank you Michael for giving a low market team as the Bolts an awesome blogger to follow. Been reading your stuff since you started here, and will try to get involved in as many discussions as possible.
- Cloud

Ahl is not an option for Druoin he isn't eligible so he's here for at least 9 games or back to the juniors and once there can not be recalled to the Bolts for a year. Purcell really hasn't shown me much consistently flashes yes but he need to do more.

Ahl is not an option for Druoin he isn't eligible so he's here for at least 9 games or back to the juniors and once there can not be recalled to the Bolts for a year. Purcell really hasn't shown me much consistently flashes yes but he need to do more.
- tpd11

I know he cant play in the Ahl, thats why I wrote "would have been perfect". The decision the bolt management have is whats best for his development, another year in juniors or rushing him in to the big league.

lots of big decisions today for yzerman, cooper and company i believe drouin will at least start the season with the bolts. if he shines, keep him up. if not send him back to the minors and save contract year as well as free up over $3mil in cap space.


in my opinion these are all the "locked" spots. that leaves 9 roster spots up for grabs. id imagine killhorn, johnson, aulie would make it but with so many guys ready for the jump, ya never know.

f1) malone. stammer st louis
f2)_______. filippula. purcell
f3)________. ________. ________
f4)crombeen. thompson. _______

d1) hedman. salo
d2) carle. gudas
d3) brewer. ______

g)bishop/lindback

so out of these guys only 9 will make it opening night.

palat
panik
johnson
kilhorn
connolly
labrie(1 way)
pyatt (1 way)
tyrell (1 way)
drouin
brown
kucherov

aulie (1 way)
sustr
barbeiro

tough call!

What does Killhorn project to be and what would it cost to acquire him ? I guess I should also ask what it is your team is lacking in that they might be looking for in a trade ?

What does Killhorn project to be and what would it cost to acquire him ? I guess I should also ask what it is your team is lacking in that they might be looking for in a trade ?
- blizzzard

DEFENSE!! However, I'd move Purcell before Killorn.

DEFENSE!! However, I'd move Purcell before Killorn.
- Artyukhin76

Interesting. I was having trouble gauging what you guys needed since you are very loaded in prospects in literally every position haha. What kind of a D you guys hoping for a 25-27 year old or an experienced guy maybe 30-34 ? I guess I should also ask what would be Purcells price tag? He is a lot like Matt Moulson no ?

Interesting. I was having trouble gauging what you guys needed since you are very loaded in prospects in literally every position haha. What kind of a D you guys hoping for a 25-27 year old or an experienced guy maybe 30-34 ? I guess I should also ask what would be Purcells price tag? He is a lot like Matt Moulson no ?
- blizzzard

In between. 24-28 with a mean streak like Gudas and a pick or prospect.

lots of big decisions today for yzerman, cooper and company i believe drouin will at least start the season with the bolts. if he shines, keep him up. if not send him back to the minors and save contract year as well as free up over $3mil in cap space.


in my opinion these are all the "locked" spots. that leaves 9 roster spots up for grabs. id imagine killhorn, johnson, aulie would make it but with so many guys ready for the jump, ya never know.

f1) malone. stammer st louis
f2)_______. filippula. purcell
f3)________. ________. ________
f4)crombeen. thompson. _______

d1) hedman. salo
d2) carle. gudas
d3) brewer. ______

g)bishop/lindback

so out of these guys only 9 will make it opening night.

palat
panik
johnson
kilhorn
connolly
labrie(1 way)
pyatt (1 way)
tyrell (1 way)
drouin
brown
kucherov

aulie (1 way)
sustr
barbeiro

tough call!
- zatara39

Pyatt and Tyrell are wavier fodder. Unless Sustr absolutely laps Aulie and Barberio he's AHL bound because they don't want to lose Barberio and Aulie to waviers. La re could be and extra forward and I like the Palat-Johnson-Panik line, but not sure they would actually run it.

In between. 24-28 with a mean streak like Gudas and a pick or prospect.
- Artyukhin76

only thing I got is Mark Fayne and prospect. He is a solid defensive minded player but isn't very mean. He kills penalties and is 26 I believe maybe.

I'm not sold on moving Purcell just yet

On drouin : my prediction is that he stays and some AHL prospects that have impressed go back to the AHL not because they're bad but just because once down drouin cannot be called back up. I'd say give drouin as many games as possible this year without getting overwhelmed and when need be sit him in the pressbox to take notes and call up the Syracuse guys ... Kinda like stamkos rookie season , it's not like drouin hasn't tallied up a fair amount of points for an 18 year old .... It just sucks that he can't go to the AHL I think we're all on the same page there

I'm not sold on moving Purcell just yet

On drouin : my prediction is that he stays and some AHL prospects that have impressed go back to the AHL not because they're bad but just because once down drouin cannot be called back up. I'd say give drouin as many games as possible this year without getting overwhelmed and when need be sit him in the pressbox to take notes and call up the Syracuse guys ... Kinda like stamkos rookie season , it's not like drouin hasn't tallied up a fair amount of points for an 18 year old .... It just sucks that he can't go to the AHL I think we're all on the same page there

It's simple the juniors would do no good at all , but maybe NHL wouldn't either . Hard to make a choice when ur stuck between a rock and a hard place

Will we find out captaincy today? Or oct .1st . I heard both oct 1st and after our last preseason game I

here is what I would make our opening day roster if I was the coach.

Malone-Stamkos-St. Louis
Killorn-Filppula-Purcell
Drouin-Johnson-Connolly
Crombeen-Thompson-Panik

Hedman-Salo
Carle-Gudas
Brewer-Aulie

Bishop-Lindback

Pyatt
Labrie
Barberio

Obviously some of this may not fit, or could be interchangeable, but I would try something like this to start. Although choosing between Palat and Panik does hurt.

here is what I would make our opening day roster if I was the coach.

Malone-Stamkos-St. Louis
Killorn-Filppula-Purcell
Drouin-Johnson-Connolly
Crombeen-Thompson-Panik

Hedman-Salo
Carle-Gudas
Brewer-Aulie

Bishop-Lindback

Pyatt
Labrie
Barberio

Obviously some of this may not fit, or could be interchangeable, but I would try something like this to start. Although choosing between Palat and Panik does hurt.
- BoltsFan4Life

I've put that roster up a couple of times.

I've put that roster up a couple of times.
- Artyukhin76

its pretty solid, right? obviously injuries are gonna happen so all the guys that get cut today or tomorrow will have a chance to get called up to the big club and get their chance!

not a bad group of girls, huh guys?!

http://3.cdn.nhle.com/lig...s_0926/_I9T0870_slide.jpg

Wow, what an luxury problem the Bolts are faceing, but still a problem though. Connolly does deserve at spot after what hes shown during the pre-season. I honestly think that its Drouin who gets the axe, allthough a year in the juniors wont do him good. A year in the AHL would have been perfect..

RM-SS-MSL as first line, Purcell Connolly Killorn fighting for the second line wings. Syracruse line as third and Thompson-Pyatt-Crombeen as fourth should make up a pretty competitive team, allthough someone will se alot of the pressbox. Deepth in the roster is never a bad thing, although its not that good for the chemistry.

Cant wait til the puck drops, will be awesome to see the "new" bolts under Cooper. Also I would like to thank you Michael for giving a low market team as the Bolts an awesome blogger to follow. Been reading your stuff since you started here, and will try to get involved in as many discussions as possible.
- Cloud

Much appreciated!