twenties

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who do you expect back as your 20's next year?

[Hitmen1]

Good question. The Hitmen have some key players on this years roster who will be 20 next year. Most of it will depend on what their NHL teams want with them because most of them are just breaking out in the WHL this year. It will also depend on whether the league eliminates one Euro spot in favor of another 20 yr old spot. I do know that most people believe Postma will not be back but I believe he will.

Sonne
Postma
Broda
Plante
MacDonald-I don't think he would be back unless one or two of the big gunners are no longer with the team.

I am probably missing a few guys.

[AlanC]

who do you expect back as your 20's next year?

Eligible overagers next year:

Joel Broda (F)
Bostjan Golicic (F)
Tomas Karpov (F)
Jason MacDonald (F)
Alex Plante (D)
Paul Postma (D)
Brett Sonne (F)

Plante and Sonne will be playing pro in the AHL next year so they're off the list. Golicic and Karpov are imports and probably wouldn't be brought back to take up both overage and import spots.

MacDonald will certainly be back, I think. He was a freebie player who nobody thought much about last fall but I think he has played well enough in the role he was given (3rd line defensive specialist) that he has earned the right to try to play again as an overage. If he can handle a bigger role as an overage on a rebuilding team, why not.

Broda and Postma are the unknowns. Both were mid/late round NHL draft picks who have had outstanding seasons but who are also not signed by their NHL clubs yet either. I think Postma will be gone; Atlanta has to sign him by May or lose his rights and the Thrashers organization is not exactly overflowing with talent so I think they'll sign him and bring him to the AHL next season.

Broda....he is Capitals property and was a 2008 pick so they do have another year to sign him yet, plus they have a pretty good farm system. Makes me think they might wait the extra year to sign him. But on the other hand, what good is another year in the WHL going to do him.....he just scored 50 goals, he's ready for pro hockey. I'd say he's around 50/50 to return but I'm leaning towards him being gone.

So, basically, the Hitmen could find themselves with only Jason MacDonald for overagers next year, which would mean they'll be buyers from other teams' scrap piles.

[peatfan]

Next year O/A ideally will be Postma, Sonne & Broda. However since Sonne just signed with St. Louis he won't be here. Plante will join Sonne in the AHL. Broda hasn't signed yet and I can see him back next year. I don't think Postma has signed with Atlanta and if he doesn't he will go back in the entry draft. He is the wild card. Obviously it will be great to see him back with Stone, Bonsor, McKenzie and Madiasky as the starting 5. MacDonald will be back. I can also see Golicic in the picture. We know wha he can do and he has improved tremoundously since last year. If we draft 2 new Euro's we could end up with a Cjetkovsky and Vrbata. We seem to get more bad Euro's than good ones and I don't like our chances of getting 2 good ones. With Bost we will have 1 good one and roll the dice for the second Euro's. If he comes back I can see him get 40 goals on the #1 line with ZBroda & Kozun.
So count MacDonald as the only sure thing. If Broda & Postma comes back that will be the three. If neither comes back then it's MacDonald & Golicic and one opening. Maybe Karpov as two O/A Euro's? That will be a long shot as Kisio will either make a trade or get a frebie. We know that it won't be a goalie.

clrkth Boogaard'd pbj vc178 :burningma :mad: