Sunday, July 5

Neil Parker

2015-07-05

 

 

Caps and Flames talk, 23-and-under All-Star team, Darnell Nurse and more …

 

 

***

 

 

Yesterday I suggested the Edmonton Oilers were the most improved team since the end of last season thus far since. There was a vote for the Buffalo Sabres, too.

 

Here are two teams who look a lot better heading into the 2015-16 season.

 

Washington Capitals

 

As long as Braden Holtby is re-signed and healthy, Washington has a chance to be the best team in the Eastern Conference. Matt Niskanen has been an excellent power-play contributor when given an opportunity, and assuming Dmity Orlov returns healthy, Mike Green’s relocation won’t be a significant loss.

 

T.J. Oshie is a nice fit for the top line, and Justin Williams makes sense as the veteran on a line with Evgeny Kuznetsov. While it is still too early to lock that in stone, it makes sense, and Washington’s forward corps is deep.

 

 

These are the players I’m cutting for sure: Leo Komorov, Johan Franzen, Jiri Tlusty

So, I can carry 20 players on my pro roster, and this is what I foresee from my own camp.

 

Crosby – Staal – Zibanejad

Stone – Maroon – Lee – Pacioretty – Wheeler – Okposo

Doughty – Ekblad – Green – Klingberg

Holtby – Mason – Jones

 

Some players would be subject to waivers if I don’t keep them on my pro roster and that stuff. But with the above 16, I would have four openings. Where I need to address will largely depend on how generous Yahoo!’s positions are next season.

 

Center is a huge weakness, but otherwise, I think it is a somewhat competitive team. I’ll probably do everything I can to strengthen up this season and avoid a tank/rebuild. Those sort of things don’t interest me.

 

We’ll see, but the main reason I wanted to share was to gauge your thoughts on whether there is enough jam?

 

 

***

 

 

I enjoyed this read discussing the lack of “dumb contracts” signed early in free agency. The old boys’ clubs are a thing of the past.

 

 

***

 

 

Here is a look at the makings of the American roster for the 2016 World Cup.

 

Remember, because I just had to delete two paragraphs, that there will be a separate North American 23-and-under All-Star team, so Jack Eichel and Seth Jones would be candidates for that club and not the US national team.

 

In my opinion, that is a much more significant blow to the United States club than Canada’s team.

 

Here is my 23-and-under roster:

 

Centers: Connor McDavid – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins* – Nathan MacKinnonSean Monahan – Jack Eichel – Bo Horvat

 

Wingers: Gabriel Landeskog* – Brandon Saad* – Jonathan DrouinJohnny Gaudreau – Lawson Crouse – Jonathan Huberdeau – Michael Dal Colle – Dylan Larkin – Anthony Mantha – Max Domi – Ryan Strome* – Boone Jenner* – Mitch Mariner – Robby Fabbri

 

Defensemen: Dougie Hamilton* – Jacob TroubaRyan Murray* – Cody Ceci* – Morgan RiellySeth JonesAaron Ekblad – Noah Hanifin – Matt Dumba

 

Goalies: John Gibson* – Eric Comrie – Malcolm Subban

 

The age cutoff date hasn’t been established yet, so players with an asterisk are 23.

 

Alright folks, who am I missing?

 

 

***

 

 

Darnell Nurse isn’t going to make the roster out of camp, unless that defense corps changes. Here is a quick-hit article discussing the situation for Nurse and his view.

 

Mark Fayne and Nikita Nikitin have huge salaries, and Fayne has big term. Andrej Sekera and Andrew Ference are the elder statesmen, and then there is Justin Schultz, Oscar Klefbom and Griffin Reinhart.

 

There are seven players ahead of him, albeit maybe only three in terms of value.

 

Reinhart and Klefbom, like Nurse, have two-way deals, so the battle may truly be between those three. There is also the chance Schultz, a restricted free agent, isn’t in the mix anymore, or that Nikitin’s contract will be eaten in the minors, unless he is claimed on waivers.

 

Perhaps, even Fayne could be subject to similar treatment.

 

All said, for a team that has looked lost defensively for a decade, they’re in a position with options. That alone is a huge step in the right direction.

 

 

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