smithers joe

i see, 4 forward spots open and 1 defense position up for grabs. i count 12 or 13 players vying for 4 forward positions and at least 4 players vying for the number 7th defenseman. 

I'd say if your name doesn't end with "Sedin", "Tanev" or "Horvat", you are a bubble player.   This is first year in a long while for this franchise where there is actual competition at most every position.    Healthy thing for the team.

i believe that ericksson, sutter, granlund, baertschi, edler, stecher, gudbranson, del zotto and hutton have spots. that leaves, labate, virtanen, gaunce, boeser, burmistrov, gagner, goldobin. boucher and molina, and maybe dahlin having a chance at forward. 

juolevi, pedan, brisebois, weircoch, biega and maybe subban grabbing the last spot.