I know Chris Faber on a personal level and he knows his shit. He wouldn't report anything unless he knows it's legit and that it has legs. This is very good news.
I think we'll see something like this, as others have mentioned:
Pearson - Miller - Boeser
Kuzmenko - Pettersson - Mikheyev/Podkolzin
Garland - Horvat - Mikheyev/Podkolzin
Joshua/Hoglander - Lazar - Dickinson
Lockwood
Hoglander could also move up to the top line with JT and Pearson can be moved down to the 4th line. Joshua would then be a healthy scratch. The nice thing with Hogz is that he's versatile and can slide in with any of the top 3 centres with ease.
Our d-pairings are fairly self explanatory assuming Hughes works out on the right side:
OEL - Hughes
Dermott - Myers
Rathbone - Schenn/Poolman
We're still lacking a quality top 4 defenseman whether it's on the left or right. (Ideally right)
Demko
Martin
Silovs or DiPietro as the 3rd stringer and injury call-up.
Overall I'm liking what I see. Our forward group could use a little bit more bite and our defense, mind you not great, can get the job done on most nights. Boudreau was able to improve our overall team defense and brought down our goals against number since taking over from Green.
Tkachuk, Norris, Debrincat, Stutzle, Batherson, Formenton, Pinto, Chabot, Brannstrom, Sanderson. Their only ? is in goal but that is a solid young core if you ask me.
Wow where's the Beagle love coming from all of a sudden? Didn't most people want him off the team? He's going to be even slower next season. He also brings next to no offense.
Assuming we can get a 3C signed, here's what I can foresee next season:
Petey - Miller - Hoglander
Pearson - Horvat - Boeser
Motte - Haula (UFA) - Podkolzin
Highmore - Graovac - Lockwood/MacEwen
It's time to move on from Beagle. I'd bury him in Abbotsford.
This team is so so soft lol. They only got involved to stick up for Hoggy when only Hoggy decided to take matters into his own hands. Garbage team. They need to start sticking up for their rookies. Matheson on Petey anyone?