I'd take that too . . .
I think this is finally going to be a fun year to watch Bridgeport and the progress with the kids. There's potential for a few blossomings to put the Pronman's to shame.
I thought it was fun last year already. It'll be more interesting this year.
- We've got two draftees in goal in Skarek and Lennox (if he's ready)
- There are actual NHL options on D in Bolduc, Salo, Cholowski, and Hutton, while we look forward to seeing just what Fulp and Mitchell are. Like you, I'd hope Krygier is so solid defensively that he forces his way into action.
- Theoretically, in a perfect developmental world, it should be Holmstrom, Koivula, Iskhakov, Durandeau, and Dufour leading the way offensively, getting the big offensive minutes. Very exciting to see what Maggio is, who looks like he's got that waterbug mentality and just "gets it" with respect to offensive generation. MacLean and Newkirk are at the point where it'd be big to see if they are serious 4th line options for the NHL one day. Kuefler is coming in looking like a Matt Martin type and he's got time (and probably would have more from an ECHL season). Pivonka is a draftee who's coming in as an AHL signing, but I sure hope we see the same things out of him that we've been seeing out of MacLean.
Several vets and sophomores (Helgeson, Bardreau, LaDue, Kubiak, Appleby, Sevigny, Cosgrove, Pinho) are mixed in with several CHL and NCAA adds (Piercey, Calder, Cipollone, not to mention Pivonka and Krygier).
Again, for those who might have thought otherwise, each of Liukas, Odelius, Malinen, and Rajaniemi will continue to play in Europe this season.
I think Tikannen is about the only guy whose status we're still totally uncertain about.