The Most Intriguing Training Camp Battle to Watch for Every NHL Team in 2016-17
NHL training camps will soon be opening up, and every team will have at least one battle for a feature role. General managers have addressed needs via trades, free agency and the draft, but the solutions of summer don't always deliver as expected when the season begins.
Every team ended the season with a list of things to improve, and those areas will be front and center for management and coaching staff throughout training camp—not to mention fans and media.
Here are the most fascinating potential battles as NHL teams prepare for training camp ahead of the 2016-17 season.
Anaheim Ducks: Left Wing Not Locked
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The Battle: The Anaheim Ducks are a strong team in most areas, but one area that seems to be in a state of flux is left wing. Carl Hagelin, Patrick Maroon and Jamie McGinn all spent time patrolling the position a year ago, but they are gone. The Duck needs some help on the port side and options are limited.
Who Has The Edge? Corsica gives us last season's lines, and it is unclear at times just who was playing left wing. Rickard Rakell is not a natural left winger—he has played center and right wing as well—but he has the kind of skill required to play on a top line. Nick Ritchie is an emerging talent and could step into the top six this fall, but Andrew Cogliano is a more likely solution—at least at the beginning of the year. Ryan Garbutt will get time there, and new addition Mason Raymond will get a chance to prove he has some NHL hockey left in him.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Anaheim may prefer to play Rakell on right wing, leaving the left side sorely lacking. Ritchie could be counted as a long-term option if he continues to develop but is not yet a bona fide NHL player. Looking at the Ducks depth chart on left wing, it is a good bet we see an addition via the trade route during the 2016-17 season.
Arizona Coyotes: Who Is the Starting Goalie?
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The Battle: The Arizona Coyotes are likely to have a battle in goal during training camp, and things may not be decided before opening night. There is a chance Mike Smith and Louis Domingue will split duties over the 2016-17 season.
Who Has The Edge? Smith is the veteran incumbent and had a strong season in even-strength save percentage (.933)—a good way to gauge goaltenders. Domingue is an emerging talent, but it often takes NHL coaches a while to trust young goalies with the No. 1 job.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Smith is signed through the end of of 2018-19, and Domingue is a RFA after 2017-18. The Coyotes cannot count goaltending as an area of strength and should be looking for an upgrade during the duration of Smith's contract. Domingue may wrest the starting job away, but his resume suggests he is not a lock to be better than Smith over the next three seasons.
Boston Bruins: Looking for a Few Good 20-Minute Defensemen
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The Battle: The Boston Bruins have some openings on defense, and things could get dicey unless some youngsters step up in a big way. Dennis Seidenberg is no longer with the team, plus Torey Krug had surgery in April and may not be ready for opening night. Mike Johnston of Sportsnet wrote in June—when Krug signed a long-term deal—that the 25-year-old might take six months to recover.
Who Has The Edge? Zdeno Chara averaged 24 minutes a night one year ago, and the Bruins will need him to deliver that kind of workload again. Krug can play over 20 and will likely deliver that kind of production soon after returning. The most attractive option behind Chara and Krug is probably Colin Miller, who is an impressive and emerging talent. John Michael-Liles is a veteran who can chip in, and the team clearly values Kevan Miller and Adam McQuaid.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? The nature of defense is that even long-term options can be temporary because of injuries. For the best part of the last decade, the Bruins have been able to rely on Chara and Seidenberg to deliver major minutes. Krug is a legitimate long-term solution on the top two pairings if he can remain healthy, and Colin Miller may be a suitable addition in this area.
Boston has had a stud on defense almost every season since Bobby Orr was a rookie in 1966, but with Chara turning 40 in March, there is no obvious solution at the pro level.
Buffalo Sabres: Who Will Play with Jack Eichel
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The Battle: The Buffalo Sabres have a lot of strong options to play alongside Jack Eichel. Free agent Kyle Okposo is a fantastic choice, and Eichel's linemates a year ago, Sam Reinhart, Evander Kane and Matt Moulson, had varying degrees of success. Playing on the 19-year-old's line is a lucrative spot, and every forward on the team would love the opportunity.
Who Has The Edge? Okposo is the top option on the right side, his offensive acumen a likely fit for the outstanding young center. Kane was the most popular left winger a year ago, but Moulson scored more efficiently with the young center.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? If Eichel and Okposo have chemistry, it could be a terrific combination for several years to come. The left side is a little less certain, with Kane, Moulson and others likely in the mix. Eichel enters year two with a veteran in Okposo and a revolving group on the left side. The Sabres are working hard to find good options for their franchise center and made real progress this summer.
Calgary Flames: Waiting for Jon Gillies
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The Battle: The Calgary Flames were aggressive this summer in addressing goaltending. A year ago, the lack of quality at the position cost the organization dearly. Management added Brian Elliott via trade and then signed Chad Johnson to a free-agent deal to address the situation in the short term.
Who Has The Edge? Elliott appeared in 41 games for the St. Louis Blues a year ago and may be the No. 1 option for the Flames in 2016-17. Johnson played in 45 games with the Buffalo Sabres and was effective, giving Calgary a strong tandem with NHL experience for 2016-17.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? The long-term solution for the Flames is likely Jon Gillies, the outstanding college goalie for Providence of the NCAA. He turned pro last fall and spent his time in the minors, but his resume suggests he is a bona fide talent and likely Calgary's goalie of the future.
Carolina Hurricanes: What Does Center Depth Chart Look Like After Jordan Staal?
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The Battle: The Carolina Hurricanes are building an interesting team that should be more competitive this coming season. The more interesting battles will come at center, where Jordan Staal and Victor Rask appear established—but question marks remain on the third and fourth lines.
Who Has The Edge? Based on last year's numbers, Elias Lindholm was only a part-time center—he took 434 faceoffs—and newcomer Derek Ryan won almost 60 percent of his faceoffs in a small window. Jay McClement and Andrej Nestrasil are also in the mix but have issues in terms of productivity in the offensive zone.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Staal and Rask are big men for Carolina now and into the future, but after that, we could see a lot of change on the Hurricanes depth chart at center. Lindholm should hang around long term, but not necessarily as a center. The other men in the mix will have their fortunes dictated on performance, and that begins in training camp.
Chicago Blackhawks: Finding an Effective 3rd Pairing
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The Battle: The Chicago Blackhawks have some exceptional quality on defense, with Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson representing one of the best trios in the league. The signing of Brian Campbell likely means the top four defensemen are known—but the third pairing was less than stellar last year.
Who Has The Edge? Among the returnees from a year ago, Trevor van Riemsdyk played the most at even strength a year ago. Erik Gustafsson may have been the most effective despite appearing in only 41 games. Veteran Michal Rozsival provides a veteran hand, and the club added Michal Kempny in the spring—he was effective in the KHL last year. Ville Pokka rarely gets mentioned but has posted two strong AHL seasons and is just 22.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Gustafsson showed well in half a season, and Kempny would have to be considered a substantial addition. Pokka has been developing in the minors and could force his way onto the roster this fall. The nature of the Chicago blue line is that not one of these young defenders needs to be a long-term solution in order for the team to have success.
If Pokka or Kempny perform, the Blackhawks may slide them up the depth chart into Campbell's spot. If not, the search will continue—incredible depth and strength at the top of the depth chart allows the Blackhawks to tinker at the bottom of the defensive group.
Colorado Avalanche: Who Plays with Tyson Barrie?
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The Battle: The Colorado Avalanche signed Tyson Barrie to a long-term deal this summer, committing to a brilliant offensive defender with some chaos in his game. The club needs to add a responsible left-handed defenseman to his pairing.
Who Has The Edge? There are no obvious and satisfactory solutions to the problem. Among the Avalanche's defenders, the most qualified is Francois Beauchemin—but he forms half of the top pairing with Erik Johnson. Fedor Tyutin was added over the summer, but he is coming off a poor year with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Eric Gelinas was a late-season acquisition from the New Jersey Devils and is in the mix but is probably a long shot.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Colorado has no established NHL options who could be reasonably discussed as solving the problem long term. Chris Bigras and Nikita Zadorov are emerging talents and Patrick Wiercioch has played over 200 NHL games with the Ottawa Senators. The Avalanche are in transition on defense, and it is hard to suss out the most likely solutions. Colorado fans will probably have a better idea a year from now, and Beauchemin, Johnson and Barrie do give the group some strength and consistency.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Who Plays Center?
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The Battle: The Columbus Blue Jackets have solved the goaltending position and the defense looks set at the top. The next step is to find four centers who can help the team grow through the end of the decade and beyond. Brandon Dubinsky is set, but after him there are more questions than answers.
Who Has The Edge? The rest of the group have strengths and flaws, often in equal parts. Alexander Wennberg posted 40 points last season but was only 43 percent in the faceoff circle. William Karlsson has similar problems, without the offense. Boone Jenner has substantial offense and is good in the faceoff circle but is used more often on the wing.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? All of these names should have good NHL careers. The question is will they play center and be successful at the position? The Blue Jackets badly need solutions behind Dubinsky, to the point that the team's latest first-round draft pick, Pierre-Luc Dubois, may get a long look in camp. The trade of Ryan Johansen to the Nashville Predators for Seth Jones went a long way to solving a problem on defense—but left a big void at center.
Dallas Stars: About the Goalies
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The Battle: The Dallas Stars are a very good team in search of a way out of the goaltending. Veterans Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi represent a total of $10.4 million of team cap, per General Fanager, while providing well below-average goaltending. Adding to the pain of the situation, both men are signed through 2017-18.
Who Has The Edge? Based on last season, it appears to be an even race. The Stars used both men liberally, the save percentages were close to each other and their win totals were also close. Adding to the even feel of the discussion, both men are 32.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? The Stars are in a spot. Ideally, the club would be able to deal off one of the goalies and acquire a superior—and less expensive—option to become their starter. That will come at a cost, and there is no obvious replacement in the system. Dallas is a well-run hockey team, and the management has done very good work. But the goaltending tandem did not perform well last year, is expensive and there is no in-house solution on the horizon. Solving this will be a challenge for general manager Jim Nill.
Detroit Red Wings: 2 No. 1 Goalies?
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The Battle: The Detroit Red Wings have an interesting problem: two goalies who are legitimate No. 1 talents. Veteran Jimmy Howard has been the starter since 2009, but Petr Mrazek is emerging as a top talent—and a less expensive one.
Who Has The Edge? In the short term, Detroit is likely to run with the hot hand, perhaps looking to deal Howard should the occasion arise if both goaltenders flourish on the ice. Howard's cap hit—over $5 million per season, per General Fanager—will be difficult to trade in midseason, so the two men may share the net in 2016-17.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Mrazek is 24, and the Red Wings are likely to run with him over the next five years or more based on his resume. Howard is 32 and may have several years of productive play in the NHL, but the odds do not favor his remaining in Detroit.
Edmonton Oilers: Who Plays Right Wing After Jordan Eberle?
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The Battle: The Edmonton Oilers have a gap on right wing this coming season but no lack of quality candidates to fill the depth chart after top winger Jordan Eberle. A key story in training camp will revolve around who wins the second- and third-line right wing jobs in Edmonton.
Who Has The Edge? Nail Yakupov has been trying to establish himself for four years and had some success with center Connor McDavid a year ago. That chemistry could give him an edge, but 2016 first-round selection Jesse Puljujarvi may get an opportunity to play on a skill line during training camp. If he shows well, a role on the top two lines is possible from an organization that routinely fast-tracks prospects. Center Leon Draisaitl had success on right wing during 2015-16, and Zack Kassian has shown the ability to play a complementary role on a skill line in the past.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? All of the candidates with a strong chance to win the two available right wing jobs this fall could be long-term answers. Peter Chiarelli, Edmonton's general manager, drafted Puljujarvi, and Draisaitl is likely to be part of the team for several years. Yakupov is less certain—he has struggled badly in his four years with the team—and Kassian is a bit of a wild card in the mix.
Florida Panthers: What Is Happening in Goal?
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The Battle: The Florida Panthers have No. 1 goalie Roberto Luongo under contract through the summer of 2022 but signed James Reimer to a long-term deal this summer and traded for Reto Berra in the spring.
Who Has The Edge? Luongo had another solid season behind a contending team. He is likely to be No. 1 in the coming season. Reimer was effective with the Toronto Maple Leafs and outstanding for the San Jose Sharks after a deadline trade this spring. He should be considered starting calibre, but he is likely to be blocked by Luongo this year.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Both goalies are signed for several seasons, and the Panthers have two starters for one net. Despite the considerable cap hit, Florida can survive this season running heavy on goalies, but it would be wise to bet that one of Luongo or Reimer is playing in another NHL city in 2017-18—possibly for expansion franchise Las Vegas.
Los Angeles Kings: Fixing the 3rd Pairing
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The Battle: The Los Angeles Kings should have two quality pairings again in 2016-17. Drew Doughty and Brayden McNabb formed an effective tandem and Jake Muzzin was successful with Alec Martinez through much of last year. The battle last term and this training camp will come in finding a third pairing that works.
Who Has The Edge? Rob Scuderi played 18 minutes a night with the Kings last year, Matt Greene was injured and Tom Gilbert was struggling with the Montreal Canadiens. Zach Trotman played 38 games for the Boston Bruins and should have a good chance to grab one of the remaining jobs.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Among the men fighting for bottom-pairing time, not one would appear to be a long-term answer. The Kings do have some interesting prospects—Vincent LoVerde, Kevin Gravel and Derek Forbort—but coach Darryl Sutter prefers veterans. The prospects may play extended periods in the NHL and could be helpful into the future, but it is likely they will not play a prominent role for the entire 2016-17 season.
Minnesota Wild: Where Does Eric Staal Fit?
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The Battle: The Minnesota Wild shored up the center position by signing Eric Staal this summer. Last season, the team ran with Mikko Koivu, Mikael Granlund and Erik Haula in the main roles. All three men scored well and were effective. Where Staal fits—and who moves down the depth chart—will be one of the interesting battles at training camp.
Who Has The Edge? Koivu is a brilliant possession player and delivered a vintage performance in 2015-16. Granlund combined brilliant creativity—31 assists—with a solid possession game. Haula—who emerged during the year, especially late—ended up leading the team in even-strength points per 60 minutes. Staal, who split time between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers, may end up playing a utility role if Haula continues to post strong numbers.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Granlund and Haula are in their mid-20s and should be around for a long time, while Koivu and Staal are savvy veterans. Koivu is only signed through 2017-18 and will offer the Wild a difficult decision in a couple of years. Staal has a new three-year deal and is a reasonable bet to fulfill the deal productively.
Montreal Canadiens: Who Wins the Wings?
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The Battle: The Montreal Canadiens need scoring and badly need more offense from their wingers. A year ago, Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher scored well, but the secondary scoring was found badly wanting. There are several youngsters pushing and some new additions who will get a chance this season.
Who Has The Edge? Alexander Radulov is back from Russia on a substantial one-year deal and will get every chance to impact offensively. The addition of Andrew Shaw via trade with the Chicago Blackhawks may allow Montreal to move Alex Galchenyuk to the wing—Shaw himself could also spend time there. The Canadiens have been patient with first-round pick Michael McCarron, and his time may be now. Daniel Carr is also a skill player worthy of consideration.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? The Canadiens are perennially brimming with offensive talent and these days are more of the same. Radulov is an excellent bet who could be around for a long time if things work out, and all of the other names are young enough to prouduce productive seasons behind Pacioretty and Gallagher on the depth chart. This is a problem Montreal has probably solved with the new additions and the youngsters pushing up from junior and the minors.
Nashville Predators: Is There a Goalie Controversy?
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The Battle: The Nashville Predators are a strong contender and a mature team. Led in goal by Pekka Rinne, the club has enjoyed strong goaltending for most of this decade. However, his performance last year dipped, and that may signal a changing of the guard in the Nashville net.
Who Has The Edge? Rinne is the incumbent, and he could get back to his previous level. His save percentage dipped from .923 to .908 last season—below league average—so assuming a recovery to average or better is a reasonable bet. Marek Mazanec appears poised to win the backup role, and Juuse Saros is young but in possession of a strong resume.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Nashville is one of the NHL's strongest teams in goal, with a long history of producing quality. Rinne is under contract for the next few seasons, and chances are he will recover and post solid numbers this year. The Predators do not have an obvious replacement waiting in the wings, but one of Mazanec or Saros could emerge this year.
New Jersey Devils: Who Fills the Adam Larsson Role?
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The Battle: The New Jersey Devils traded one of the team's feature defensemen over the summer, as Adam Larsson was the price for offensive winger Taylor Hall. Larsson formed half of the top pairing along with veteran Andy Greene last term, and that spot will need a substantial player to fill the role.
Who Has The Edge? Damon Severson would appear to be the most obvious option to pair with Greene—he played reasonably tough minutes one year ago, according to behindthenet.ca. Free-agent pickup Ben Lovejoy may also be an option; he did some of the heavy lifting with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Severson is an interesting player. His performance with John Moore a year ago was solid, and there may be another gear for this young player. The Devils traded away a good young defender, but there is at least some evidence the club dealt from strength. If Severson can fill the role, the Devils would have added an outstanding offensive forward in Hall without having sacrificed much on defense. This could work out very well.
New York Islanders: Will the No. 1 Goalie Please Stand Up?
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The Battle: The New York Islanders have had a difficult time solving the goaltending position over the past several years. Entering camp this time around, there are two strong options for the starting job.
Who Has The Edge? Jaroslav Halak played well one year ago, delivering a .920 save percentage. The issue for him is in regard to injury, as he lost several games to a groin issue and other maladies. Thomas Greiss stepped into the breach and posted a .925 save percentage, effectively giving the club top-level goaltending in Halak's absence.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? New York has only short-term options at the top, as both Halak and Greiss will be reaching free agency in the next couple of seasons. Jean-Francois Berube and Christopher Gibson are possible options for the future, but neither man has clearly established himself as likely to win the starting role.
New York Rangers: Who Plays Top Pair with Ryan McDonagh?
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The Battle: The New York Rangers have a quality defender in Ryan McDonagh, but his partner last season, Dan Girardi, was not a good match. When playing without Girardi, McDonagh owned the possession battle. When paired together, the Rangers were at a substantial disadvantage.
Who Has The Edge? McDonagh and Kevin Klein were effective together, and that could be the top pairing this season. Offseason pickup Nick Holden and emerging defenders Brady Skjei and Dylan McIlrath are other options. It is also possible the team returns to Girardi in hopes the pairing improves, but the last four seasons combined show only 48 percent possession.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? New York is a veteran team, but the club has several older defenders, which is starting to catch up to the roster. If Girardi cannot fulfill the top-pairing job, the option is likely Klein. But at 31, that should not be considered a long-term solution.
Ottawa Senators: Who Plays with Cody Ceci
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The Battle: The Ottawa Senators have a strong top pairing in Marc Methot and Erik Karlsson, but the second pairing last year was not effective. Cody Ceci looks set to play the right side, but a year ago, he and Patrick Wiercioch did not get it done. The left defenseman on that pairing is going to be an important player.
Who Has The Edge? Dion Phaneuf was effective with Ceci—but in a small sample size of just over 200 minutes—and should have the edge entering training camp this year. The organization seems to have a fascination with Mark Borowiecki, but he seems a long short for such a prominent role. Thomas Chabot is regarded as a big part of the future but may not be ready, and the same could be said for Andreas Englund.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Englund is a player to watch during this year's training camp. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun wrote about the 20-year-old and his contract in April, and his style might be a good fit for Ceci's minutes. Along with Chabot, he should be considered the future at this position.
Philadelphia Flyers: Just Who Are the 6 Best Defensemen on the Roster?
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The Battle: The Philadelphia Flyers have applied many valuable draft picks and a lot of money on the defense, and the club should see results this fall. Incumbents Shayne Gostisbehere, Radko Gudas, Michael Del Zotto and Mark Streit are likely to play with veterans Nick Schultz and Andrew MacDonald—but that is not assured.
Who Has The Edge? Brandon Manning has NHL experience, so he will be in the mix, but impact prospect Ivan Provorov could push his way onto the roster. New pro Travis Sanheim has a chance, although AHL time is probably likely—at least early in the year. Finally, Samuel Morin has pro experience and showed well in the AHL in 2015-16. Based on the sheer number of options, the Flyers may choose to run with eight defenders to begin the year.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Provorov has the talent to be the best Flyers defender in a long time and could begin his career in Philadelphia this fall. Sanheim and Morin are less substantial prospects but should have good NHL careers once they arrive. If one or more of these players show well in camp, Philadelphia may try to offload a veteran such as Streit to make room on the roster.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Setting the Defense
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The Battle: The Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup in the spring, but they had areas of weakness—especially on defense. Kris Letang played 29 minutes a game in the Stanley Cup Final, and the Penguins will work toward having stronger second and third pairings.
Who Has The Edge? Olli Maatta was effective with Letang so should be considered a lock for top-pairing minutes if he is healthy. Brian Dumoulin emerged last season and will likely be second pairing—possibly with veteran Trevor Daley. Ian Cole, Justin Schultz and Derrick Pouliot should vie for playing time on the third pairing. Pittsburgh would likely benefit most from the 22-year-old Pouliot emerging; his youth and range of skills could give the team a great deal more depth on the skill side.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Dumoulin, Maatta and Pouliot are all under 25 and should be around for the long term, but the real issue is Letang. He is a UFA in 2022, and if current levels of performance are maintained, the Penguins should be able to cobble together an effective support group. If anything happens to Letang, Pittsburgh is in real trouble—unless the three youngsters step up several levels.
San Jose Sharks: Who Is Backing Up Martin Jones?
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The Battle: The San Jose Sharks have no obvious backup to starting goalie Martin Jones as the team enters training camp. A year ago, Alex Stalock was the backup and James Reimer was added down the stretch, but neither man is back this season.
Who Has The Edge? The Sharks signed Swedish Hockey League goalie Mantas Armalis in April, and he will get a long look in training camp. Aaron Dell is an older prospect—he is 27—but has posted two strong AHL seasons in a row and will be pushing for NHL employment. Troy Grosenick is also in the mix, but he is coming off a below-average season in the AHL.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Jones is both younger and more established than most of the men who are vying for the backup job, so the long-term name to keep in mind is already the No. 1 goalie in San Jose. Armalis is intriguing, but there is every chance we see San Jose pick up a veteran NHL backup or make a waiver claim before opening night.
St. Louis Blues: Finding Balance on Defense
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The Battle: The St. Louis Blues have an outstanding trio of right defenders—new captain Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk and Colton Parayko—but need to find three left shooters to match. It is a more difficult task than one would think.
Who Has The Edge? Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester is a quality pairing and has been for some time. Carl Gunnarsson and Parayko had a surprisingly effective year, leaving Shattenkirk to find a suitable partner. He had good chemistry with Joel Edmundson and Petteri Lindbohm. The Blues are loaded at the position, so Robert Bortuzzo and recent invite Mike Weber are also in the mix.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Most of the St. Louis defensemen are in their primes, but Parayko is just getting started and looks like a possible impact player. The big story for the Blues during the year will probably be how the team handles Shattenkirk, who will be a free agent next summer and may be dealt during the campaign.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The 3rd Pairing
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The Battle: The Tampa Bay Lightning are a strong team and should be considered one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. The third pairing is an area that might see some battles, as the Victor Hedman-Anton Stralman pairing and Jason Garrison could use some structure and consistency at the depth positions.
Who Has The Edge? Garrison played with both Matt Carle and Andrej Sustr last season, so with Carle gone to the Nashville Predators, this could give Sustr a chance to move up the depth chart. Nikita Nesterov played well with Braydon Coburn, and that could end up being the third pairing this season. There are also several wild-card options who could catch on, including Matt Taormina, James Wisniewski and prospect Slater Koekkoek.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? The Lightning are the envy of most NHL teams, with Hedman already an impact defender at just 25. The younger defenders who could be around long term include Sustr and Nestorov, with Koekkoek primed to establish himself as an NHL player.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Who Plays on the Wings with Auston Matthews?
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The Battle: The Toronto Maple Leafs are a rebuilding team with plenty of roster holes. The major story this fall will surround No. 1 overall selection Auston Matthews and his potential linemates.
Who Has The Edge? The prevailing wisdom in breaking in gifted talents is to find veterans who can mentor a rookie on the ice. However, Matthews has pro experience and natural two-way acumen, meaning the pool of possible wingers is wider. Veteran Leo Komarov is probably the best bet, having a range of skills and a veteran presence. Other obvious candidates include James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul, both veterans who can help offensively. If the Maple Leafs choose to run Matthews on the wing, Nazem Kadri might be a quality fit at center.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? The younger solutions share one thing in common with Matthews: inexperience. Men such as William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Kerby Rychel may get a look in rookie camp, but the chemistry would have to be extremely good for these young players to land together in the regular season. They are better long-term fits—but not for the early days of Matthews' NHL career.
Vancouver Canucks: Who Plays with the Sedin Twins?
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The Battle: The Vancouver Canucks are led by the Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, who have been quality players for a long time. The Canucks are in a difficult period, and the twins need to deliver. Last year's winger, Jannik Hansen, was quite productive, but the team missed the playoffs. This year, there is competition.
Who Has The Edge? Hansen would have to be considered the favorite, but Vancouver signed 30-goal man Loui Eriksson in free agency. He is a complete winger and might form a strong line with the Sedins. The 24-year-old Emerson Etem is an unlikely match, but his speed may get him a look.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Eriksson is signed through 2022 so is the best long-term option. Hansen has two years left on his deal but has been productive, and Vancouver will probably make every effort to re-sign him when the time comes. Etem is the youngest in the group and is more likely to play a lesser role in the coming season.
Washington Capitals: Sorting Out the Right Wingers
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The Battle: The Washington Capitals are one of the strongest teams in the NHL and a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. The team does have a fluid situation on right wing, where T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams may be joined by a new face or two this year.
Who Has The Edge? Last year, Washington ran Oshie and Williams heavily—basically 1,100 minutes each at even strength—and entrusted the rest to Tom Wilson and Jay Beagle, although the latter played some center too. This year, Wilson and Beagle have been joined by Brett Connolly and prospect Stanislav Galiev, two men who offer the Capitals a completely different look. Connolly is an offensive talent, and Galiev has a two-way reputation—effectively giving Washington several options.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? Wilson is 22 and should be around for many years, but the Capitals are interested in winning the Stanley Cup this season. A player such as Connolly may not jump off the page, but he has substantial skill and could end up being a productive player in 2016-17.
Winnipeg Jets: How to Handle the Defensemen
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The Battle: The Winnipeg Jets have three terrific right-handed defenders—Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers and Jacob Trouba—and have to find a way for all of them to get significant minutes.
Who Has The Edge? Byfuglien is going to play a lot and in all situations. You can make a case that he is the most unique player in the game, and he delivers results. Myers was a terrific acquisition from the Buffalo Sabres and offers the team a range of skills. Trouba, who is still without a contract, is far too qualified for the third defensive duo and is likely about to be paid like a top-pairing option.
Getting Trouba playing time, possibly with Byfuglien, may be the story of training camp. The two played together successfully last year. Standing in the way of that pairing is another quality defender, Tobias Enstrom.
Are These Long-Term Solutions? The Jets have a ridiculous problem and someone is eventually going to get traded. The club has incredible depth on right defense but has other needs elsewhere. Based on age and the number of years he has left to play at a high level, Trouba would appear to be a lock to stay in Winnipeg.
Note: Advanced stats via Corsica, behindthenet.ca and Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com.
