Early Roster Reflections

[timothy]

With BriseBois earlier in the week indicating he was pretty much done with the Syracuse roster, I found that a little hard to believe considering the lack of veteran depth for the blueline. So, I decided to break down the players under contract and predict where they slot in. Defense and Goaltending is pretty easy to predict, but there's a couple of open slots available for forward and a number of players competing.

Expect 13 roster slots for forwards, with 11 players written in ink IMO. That leaves 2 slots with about 6 players IMO fighting for those 2 wildcard spots. Connolly and Wyman have the upper hand given the number of NHL games both have already played, but Labrie, Wilson, Conacher, and Killorn will be among a competitive group vying for an NHL roster spot. All 6 players are on two-way contracts with Wyman, Labrie, and Wilson needing to clear waivers to be reassigned to Syracuse.

Tampa Bay

Forwards (13) : Stamkos, MSL, Purcell, Lecavalier, Malone, Pouliot, Thompson, Tyrell, Pyall, Hall, Brown, Connolly*, Wyman*

Defensemen (8) : Carle, Hedman, Brewer, Salo, Lee, Mikkelson, Bergeron, Aulie, Ohlund (IR)

Goalies (2) : Lindback, Garon

I find it really hard to believe that Yzerman/BriseBois is done with the Syracuse blueline. Taormina has plenty of offense, but struggles defensively. Just can't imagine going into the season with a third-pair of Landry and Nightingale.

Perhaps the organization is already not planning on sending back Milan and Sergeev to juniors, but I find that hard to believe as I think both those players need another year. Perhaps the organization is planning on re-signing Kevin Quick to another AHL/ECHL contract. I think there's one or two other depth signings, and I may I once again suggest Taylor Chorney who was not QO'd by EDM.

Syracuse

Forwards (15) : Conacher*, Killorn*, Labrie*, Wilson*, Angelidis, Panik, Palat, Johnson, Hutchings, Namestnikov, Gauthier, Devos, Langelier-Parent, Neilson

Defensemen (7) : Taormina, Oberg, Barberio, Gudas, Cote, Landry, Nightingale

Goalies (2) : Helenius, Tokarski

Elsewhere

Janus (not yet re-signed), Nagle, Milan*, Sergeev*

[Goboltz56]

You forgot JP Cote on D in Syracuse. I think he may qualify as that 3rd pairing D-man you mentioned they need. Although I think he's more of a 2nd pair guy.

[Donnie D]

Thanks for initiating the discussion. This is about all we are going to have to talk about for the next month and a half.

I'm not convinced that Connolly is going to be with the Lightning next year. For that matter, I'm not sure that Brown will be there either. So I think an opening is there for Conacher or Killorn.

[pete]

You forget we also have J.P. Cote signed to Syracuse, which makes things quite a bit better.

[dannybolt]

Not a Defenseman, but where's ?

[pete]

Indeed. I'm very excited about how well Panik played in the last 3 rounds of the playoffs.

I still expect one more forward signing before the start of camp, personally.

[timothy]

Updated to include the Panik and Cote omissions. Thanks!

[timothy]

Originally Posted by Donnie D

Thanks for initiating the discussion. This is about all we are going to have to talk about for the next month and a half.

I'm not convinced that Connolly is going to be with the Lightning next year. For that matter, I'm not sure that Brown will be there either. So I think an opening is there for Conacher or Killorn.

There is absolutely no way that you win a bidding war for Brown and as part of the offer to Brown was to let the remainder of the 2011-12 season count for the first of a two-year ELC -- and then you send him him to AHL for the only season you have to evaluate him before you have to re-sign.

There's no way Brown isn't on the NHL roster.

[Donnie D]

Originally Posted by timothy

There is absolutely no way that you win a bidding war for Brown and as part of the offer to Brown was to let the remainder of the 2011-12 season count for the first of a two-year ELC -- and then you send him him to AHL for the only season you have to evaluate him before you have to re-sign.

There's no way Brown isn't on the NHL roster.

Isn't he an RFA at the end of the year? He would be no different than Tic or any of the other RFAs that are playing in Syracuse - you still would have his rights. If you can send Connolly down, why not Brown?

[uf1910]

Originally Posted by timothy

There is absolutely no way that you win a bidding war for Brown and as part of the offer to Brown was to let the remainder of the 2011-12 season count for the first of a two-year ELC -- and then you send him him to AHL for the only season you have to evaluate him before you have to re-sign.

There's no way Brown isn't on the NHL roster.

Absolutely agree. In hiis 5 game "audition" late last year he played well considering the circumstances and with a full off-season I see no way he isn't with Bolts.