I think I would go:I don't think I would go so far as to say that a #1 has to be a shut down guy. I think an all-situations, 25+ minute guy who can move the puck and put points on the board qualifies. Is Erik Karlsson a shut down guy? I never thought so, but he's clearly a #1. For me, Krug doesn't play the minutes and doesn't play against the other team's best enough.
I'm curious as to what the pairs will be. Good arguments for either Carlo or McAvoy alongside Chara.
Chara - Carlo
Krug - McAvoy
Miller - Postma
McQuaid
Not sure that'll happen. Maybe flip McAvoy and Carlo, but I would mostly like to get Krug freed of the McQuaid anchor.
We should get some idea of what they're thinking when the team hits the ice today. Cassidy didn't say much about the defense yesterday, but noted that Krejci and Pastrnak go together as well as Marchand and Bergeron. They also intend on Backes playing the wing again.