We've already had some exciting signings, both rumoured and confirmed. Lalonde's confirmation got me thinking about next year's defence. Here are a few options so far:
BOHINC - LALONDE
ĆOSIĆ - GREGORC
MAŠIČ - HEBAR/NEW RD
Here we reduce the responsibility on Mašič at 5-on-5 but keep him on PP1. Many NHL teams that lack true stars on defence do this with their PP1 QBs, keeping them sheltered on the 3rd pairing. Bohinc and Lalonde form a redoubtable and formidably physical first pair, both with booming point shots.
Gregorc won the Norris for OHB, but didn't perform magnificently, to say the least. Here, we get more value out of his experience by putting him on his off-hand, allowing Ćosić to roam more freely offensively.
I want ice time for Hebar, but there is already a log-jam on the left side. Perhaps he's better off being 7th D and we bring in another right-shot D for the 3rd pair.
BOHINC - LALONDE
ĆOSIĆ - HEBAR
MAŠIČ - GREGORC/NEW RD
If developing Hebar is more of a priority, then you could swap Gregorc down to the third pair. I don't love putting Hebar on his off-hand side, but it does give him more ice time.
MAŠIČ - LALONDE
ĆOSIĆ - BOHINC
HEBAR - GREGORC/NEW RD
It'll be interesting to see what Cooper thinks of Mašič and where he ends up playing him. For our Bine traditionalists, here he is back on the 1st pair. I can feel NR's rage emanating already. Bohinc played some off-hand in the preseason last year, so you could try him with Ćosić to form another brilliantly physical pairing. This allows Hebar to go LD on the 3rd, alongside a new RD or Gregorc. Some of the Roundtable Boys suggested Ćosić on the first pair, but I don't want to stifle his nascent offensive creativity by giving him too much responsibility. For me, Bohinc fits that spot next to Lalonde best as he already has the defensive chops for being the stay-at-home guy in that pair, allowing his offense to gradually grow.
In general, I think that we're pretty well-set with defence. Another right-shot D would be sensible, to at least give us the option of avoiding having two off-hand defenders. Crnović should go but Gregorc would end up being a good 6th/7th D at this stage of his career, allowing the younger players with more upside to get ice time.
LEAVING PLAYERS UPDATE
Seconds after I published this, the team announced quite a few players are leaving. Here they are:
Lan Kavčič - 3rd goalie making way for Gal Hebar, I imagine.
Blaž Tomaževič - He didn't make enough of an impact and may wish to consider retirement with his concussion history.
Rudolf Červeny - I am flabbergasted at this one, to be honest. Our best scorer, most consistently dangerous forward? Something must have thrown a spanner in the negotiation works here. This doesn't make sense. Apart from him being a good player, I am extra sad because I won't get to see his lovely family again. Real sad vibes on a Tuesday morning. I am very interested to see what the plan is here because we need goals and instead of adding we are saying goodbye to a key source of them. I really wanted to see the kind of damage Červeny could do with a full-season on his plate, but unfortunately he will go hungry for us. Does that make sense? Probably not. Another team will feed him, that's for sure.
Maris Bičevskis - We saw this coming. He wasn't happy with his role this year and will probably need to move down a league in quality to find one more suited to his tastes.
Wyatt Ege - I'm only shocked they haven't officially said goodbye to Atwal yet, too. Thanks for coming, as we would say in the cricket world.
Kale Kerbashian - I was worried this would happen, and not only for the fact that his family make up a decent part of my readership! I think he needed a strong finish to the season to prove he had gas in the tank for a full, healthy run next year. That didn't happen and so he doesn't get re-signed. Ouch. I don't think I'll find another player as friendly and personable as Kale, but it's one of those where you have to appreciate that it happened at all rather than ruminating on its end. I'll be following his next stop in the hockey world from afar!
Alex Lavoie - back to the French league, methinks. Au revoir!
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