Predict the Depth Chart

[havlat]

Well, might as well discuss this as well. Predict the lines and depth chart coming out of training camp. Defence combinations, first call ups, and so on.

I'll do my own in a bit.

[tomas]

I'll take a stab at it, not sure how deep you wanted the depth charts. This is also assuming Kaigorodov doesn't come over because I haven't heard anything new on it in a while.

Eaves - Spezza - Heatley

Schaefer - Fisher - Alfredsson

McAmmond - Vermette - Neil

Hamel - Kelly - McGrattan

Allison - Payer - Martins

Heerema - Bass - Bois

Redden - Meszaros

Phillips - Corvo

Volchenkov - Preissing

Schubert - Barinka

Malec - Platil

Gerber

Emery

Guard

If Kaigorodov comes over I'd bump Vermette to the 4th line.

[defenseminister]

I'll give it a shot:

Eaves-Spezza-Heatley
Schaefer-Fisher-Alfie
McAmmond-Kelly-Vermette
McGrattan-Payer-Neil

Hamel as the extra forward. Schubert of course is the swingman.

This is based primarily on the theory that Murray and Muckler are bound and determined to give Kelly more icetime and responsibility on the 3rd line (there have been major hints all summer). I don't know if I necessarily agree with that but I can see the reasoning. Kelly is a very valuable team member, he deserves more icetime. Murray loves having his penalty killing tandems play together on the same line (Vermette-Kelly) and (Fisher-Schaefer). Not to mention that McAmmond-Kelly-Vermette would have to be that fastest line in the league. It would be an interesting experiment.

I'm not really sold on Payer being an everyday player as opposed to an injury callup but if Kelly's not centring the 4th line, then Payer seems to be the only option and it looks like that's why they brought him in. I don't think McGrattan's going to play in every game but I also don't think they're going to scale back his role a whole lot either. They gave him a raise and signed him for 2 more years, I don't think they did so just so he could sit in the pressbox for half the season.

Finally, I'm not too sure about Neil being on the 4th line, he deserves more. But in this configuration, I don't know where else he fits unless you put McAmmond or Vermette on the 4th line instead. If the team decides that Kelly doesn't have to be on the 3rd line, then Vermette would become the 3rd line centre and Neil would move up to wing on that line. Then Hamel and McGrattan would be Kelly's wingers on the 4th line.

I guess Luttinnen and Hennessy would be the first callups but it's hard to say that definitively until you see them in action in training camp.

The defense:

Redden-Preissing
Phillips-Corvo
Volchenkov-Meszaros

Schubert as the swingman.

This is a complete crapshoot and I reserve the right to actually see how Preissing and Corvo fit in during training camp. Although I'm fairly certain that Redden and Corvo will be the top PP tandem as that's a big reason why they signed him. Preissing and Meszaros will probably be the 2nd PP pairing.

I believe this is the first year where you could not readily identify who your pairings are with any degree of certainty. You could even make that case that Phillips and whoever he plays with will be the top pairing as he could be sent out to shut down the top players like he was last year. That would then put Redden in the 2nd pairing like last year. I really believe that Preissing will be a strong addition as by many accounts, he was San Jose's best defenseman last year and their fans describe him as an all-around solid player that they will miss.

As for callups, Allison would be the first and then maybe Barinka if he's as good as advertised.

Finally the easy part:

Gerber
Emery

callups: Guard then Glass

Note: I reserve the right to change this as many times as I like.

[tomas]

It's nice to finally have a full group of right handed shots on this team too for the defense.

[defenseminister]

Also Thomas, on your depth chart, you have Martins listed. He's no longer with the organization. I'm also pretty sure that although Allison has played a little forward in the past, he's primarily a defenseman and I'm sure that's where the Sens have him slotted in with Novak gone. And I'm not entirely sure about Malec or Platil still being in the organization either.

[havlat]

I beleive that Malec is still in the organization. Platil is not.

[tomas]

DM I was going by the Sens official website, I figured if anyone would have it right it would be them but it doesn't look like he's currently with a team. I also slotted Allison in at forward because I felt between him and Schubert one would be a defenseman and one a forward and he made the most sense so I left him there. With the depth guys it's all up in the air anyway as someone could come in unknown and earn a spot as a reserve guy unexpectedly. I just put guesses there mostly.

[esdoorn]

I've got a felling it could look like this.....but who knows!

Eaves-Spezza-Heatley
Schaefer-Fisher-Alfie
Vermette-McAmmond-Neil
McGrattan-Kelly-Schubert

[faraday]

I'm pretty similar to you guys. I found the defensive pairings difficult, I can think of so many combinations that make sense.

Eaves - Spezza - Heatley
Schaefer - Fisher - Alfredsson
McAmmond - Vermette - Neil
Hamel - Kelly - McGrattan

Redden - Preissing
Phillips - Corvo
Volchenkov - Meszaros

Extras: Schubert/Barinko

[faraday]

tomas said:

It's nice to finally have a full group of right handed shots on this team too for the defense.

Exactly, Murray will have lots of options each game depending on who's playing well.

[sensbk]

Spezza Heatley Eaves
McAmmond Vermette Alfredsson
Schaefer Fisher Neil
Schubert Kelly McGrattan/ or
Hamel Kelly Schubert


Redden Meszaros
Phillips Preissing
Volchenkov Corvo

Lali...err..Hase...err..Gerber,
Emery



Does anyone know if McGrattan's contract is two-way again?

[tomas]

I am worried a bit in regards to a defensive defenseman or a shutdown guy. Phillips is really the only defenseive defensemen. Redden is good, Volchenkov... well he tried and he's getting better but he does seem to have a brain cramp problem (no I'm not just basing it off the Buffalo game where he fell on his buttocks), Corvo and Preissing from what I've heard are not defense-first type of guys,. Meszaros I'm not sure, he could suffer some sophomore jinx, he could step up and improve on last season.