u/Highflyer47

I am genuinely scared we won't win one this year

Introduction

Its a bit early so im making assumptions like Bourgault still being a two way guy, Leevi losing the back up job as well as Yakemchuk coming back. But I think theres a reasonable forecast here, minus any last minute additions. They will probably bring in a 2nd goalie to supplement Leevi and maybe Parsons gets more looks this year. Not sure what the 3rd pair will be, Crotty and one of Hamara/Ando/Toure should win the job. Campbell probably rotates them unless theres a firm winner in camp.

Line 1 Bourgault-Suzuki-Haltonen, Bolduc and Yakemchuk

Should be no shocks here that Xavier and Kasper will be on the top line. Those are probably the only two forwards with any real hope of mounting a campaign to break into the NHL in a year from now. Suzuki will be a intelligent distributor with good vision. He will slow the game down, drawing in coverage to find Bourgault as he hunts for soft ice and exploits entry lanes. Ryan was a quality player for Chicago so he brings AHL production with him. He brings what Halliday did but he should probably be here the whole year.

​The critical development to watch here is Halttunen. He has a frame built to dominate board battles and a wicked release, very similar player to Arthur Kaliyev. However, to carve out a permanent NHL future, Halttunen must take the crucial steps that Kaliyev didn’t by evolving into a committed 200-foot player and cleaning up his stride. Having had Kaliyev here last year, hopefully this staff is equipped to take Kasper to the level Kaliyev didnt. If Kasper can be as lethal as Kaliyev boy this line will be fun to watch.

​He shares that exact developmental boat with Carter Yakemchuk. Both possess high NHL upside, but both will be in Belleville to sharpen their defensive awareness and skating agility. Riding shotgun to Carter is Samuel Bolduc who gives Yakemchuk the freedom to deploy his offensive instincts without his defensive vulnerabilities blowing up the shift. It was a great pair last year hopefully with this kind of firepower and upside this possession centric five-man unit will be fun to watch if it works out.

Line 2 Blais-Daoust-Tomasino, Donovan and Kyrou

Easily the boom or bust line. The "Phil & Phil" combination (theres probably a better name than that out there) of Phil Daoust and Phil Tomasino gives immense vertical speed and creativity through the neutral zone. It will use Daoust's pace to stretch opposing blue lines, creating immediate rush opportunities where Tomasino can make plays at full speed.

​The catch is the defensive profile. Tomasino, in particular isnt going to be a big defensive asset (whats held him back from staying in the NHL). Enter Sammy Blais. Blais is the rugged, heavy veteran who will crash the net, act as an absolute pest, physically wear down defensemen, and win the puck back for his skill guys. Also has his name on the Stanley Cup so hopefully he is the Pilon replacement as the next leader for the team.

​Christian Kyrou is simply too gifted offensively to sit outside the top four. But as a slight built puck-dominant rover, Kyrou needs grade A builder calibre insulation much like Tomasino. He gets that from (a ideally more healthy) Jorian Donovan. While Kyrou activates the breakout, Donovan and Blais carry the defensive weight of a unit featuring three high-stakes defensive question marks. If Coach Campbell can get this group to commit to low-zone tracking, their transition game will blitz this league. But if not, prepare for fraustration because if they get stuck in their own end nothing good probably comes out of it.

Line 3 Hodgson-Bakke Olsen-Boucher

This is a defensive matchup group that possesses grit in spades. While you shouldn’t hope for offensive output, this line is modeled after the shutdown line of Greig/Pinto/Amadio. Every single player here tips the scales over 200 pounds which is an absolute nightmare to match up against on the cycle.

​Following an strong international showing for Norway thats brought him overseas, Eskild Bakke Olsen arrives with SHL experience. The Senators front office must values his 200-foot profile considering they bought out his SHL deal. Likely viewing him as a potential bottom-six NHL center of the future whose defensive reliability could eventually free up Pinto to slide into a permanent 2C slot and him into the shutdown role.

Tyler Boucher. Poor Tyler Boucher. This season represents Boucher’s likely last real audition to prove he can carve out a healthy, identity-driven bottom-six NHL career. He looked decent enough last year when healthy, emphasis on when healthy. Fringe NHLer Hayden Hodgson will also be out there so Boucher doesn't have to overthink his role. Just run straight lines, establish a crushing forecheck, and let Bakke Olsen run the structural show down the middle. At this point Tyler isnt going to be the 10th overall pick offensive dynamo anymore. He needs to stay healthy and simplify his role. Success isnt going to be a 50 point season for him or Olsen, they project as bottom 6 guys so a year of being quality shutdown forwards would do them a world of good as (very dark) dark horse candidate's to crash Ottawa's 2027/2028 team.

Line 4 Montgomery-Ellinas-Pettersson

​As the shiny new highly touted london knight and Wisconsin Badger, Blake Montgomery will make his pro debut this yeat. He is a textbook modern power forward with a massive frame and an incredible wingspan, but adjusting to the grueling 72-game pro calendar takes time. This line is designed to let him learn the pro game before a bigger role nextseason for Belleville

​To ensure he isn't overwhelmed, he is paired with Oskar Pettersson on the right wing. Pettersson provides a highly disciplined, positionally sound foundation that acts as an excellent teaching baseline for a rookie. Meanwhile, Lucas Ellinas steps into his first full AHL campaign as a remarkably steady, competitive two-way pivot who would handle low-zone support. This trio gives Belleville a low-stress, heavy developmental runway that can reliably eat minutes and push the pace.

Overall Thoughts

The focus clearly this offseason is to build better offensive lines in Belleville, which based on some of the additions is what hopefully is coming. Lots of question marks in this team about its defense though in my opinion. Leevi getting pelted every game isnt going to lead to wins. Kyrou, Tomasino etc. Lots of guys with defense as a question mark who will be getting big minutes. Campbell has his work cut out, hes going to need to show he can tutor defense out of these guys if the team is going anywhere this year. Its a very very very boom or bust team with a lot of younger but high level AHL guys being brought in. Theres a lot more AHL production out of the guys in the top 6 than weve had in some years.

The big xfactors going to be Kasper and Tomasino. I dont doubt Suzuki can replace what Halliday was doing while he was here (hence im bullish on that first line this year) and I personally don't doubt Yakemchuk takes a step, but replacing the raw output of Kaliyev is a big question. Also can we get enough defense out of them to do more than just replace the raw numbers as well? Both guys have some really top level tools to work with so if they hit then we may be in business.

Will we make the playoffs? A lot hinges on health for sure (that goes for the big club too by the way) but also what Head Coach Campbell in a full year as the lead voice can do. If this grouo has just enough defense to supplement its very enticing offensive potential then absolutely we can get back in. Leevi hopefully will have a better year and whoever backs him up hopefully can be better than Mads last year. I think this is a team that im certainly interested to see but I cant say im hyper confident in it yet. But I think the tools are all there for this team to be a playoff one. So I lean yes on that question. Lets see how things go for Belleville in its 10th season in the city.

I know Steve has said he doesn't want to trade up but I'd seriously consider it as the better option if the value isnt too ridiculous. We are already hearing robertson and kyrou wouldnt come here and frankly any other fringe 70 point players thats cost 9 mil AAV and several assets to acquire just isnt worth it.

The window isnt next year or wven the year after. We have Tim and Jake long term here who both arent even at their peak powers yet. Most of the really good teams are built off years of trades so give yourself a year or so to actually build up this group. You didnt have the assets before to do it right these last few years but now you do so dont make a mistake out of haste to win more. Last thing we need is throw assets at a guy who doesnt move the needle nearly enough. Dont do another Bobby Ryan panic move when theres no pressure to do that.

The best play to me is to go get a young guy who can be a legit top line player in a year or so. Why? Because frankly thats the best value imo we can realistically get in the market as well as that is perfectly timed with our window. Somebody who wont cost us 16 AAV and also will come into their own as both Yak and Leevi come up to fill the very exact holes we have right now. Draft a bit, explore trades and let this young team grow a bit more. Being a fringe playoff team this year isnt the worst thing in the world if itll mean in 2 years we will be legit contenders.

If i were Steve i wouldnt write off waiting 1 year to let atleast one of boston, tampa or florida slow down a bit. It fits our window better to be patient and I truly think Stenberg by far and away makes more sense for this org than gambling on Petey or Laf would to uncover their potential. You give yourself lots money to try and pry the other RFA Bourque out Dallas's hands, especially if we promise to take seguin off their hands to make room for robertson. Thats a different conversation but Borque and Stenberg for Tkachuk and maybe a few other pieces to get the other deals done would be a mighty good return for us.

Im really aiming to get all the suits and the tux i think is amazon exclusive. I got the banker pack in hitman and i wishlisted the game a few months back. Hoping if i did this i should get about everything i can in preorder (well everything beyond from the 300 dollar edition of the game).

Also curious how the wishlist stuff is going to work

Its not the result we hoped for. Granted nobody expected them to even do half of what we expected this year. So a year to still be proud of. To have the record we did and to go to the 2nd round would have been a heck of a year for us all thing considered.

That barrie has quite a few high end nhl prospects on it whereas we really didnt have that. More of their guys like aitchison are some of the top end players. The hope is that this core can stick together. Its the first time this groups come this far. Beyond Foster and a few others, most of the team should be back. Some bad bounces and too much penalty trouble all series long. They just got pushed out of their game.

Ultimately we way way out did anyones expectations going into the year. If we can keep this group together i think we can really do something. I really wanted a game 6 but alas its not to be. Oh well, the boy did darn good this year nonetheless. The rebuild is looking like it is in good shape. With guys like koyne and chitter with a few more junior years left i think we could take a big step next year! Lets go 67's!