Today I will be taking a look at some of the forwards who I think will play in the NHL and the forwards I think will bounce around a bit. I will also do a lineup projection. I will not in this article talk about the forwards I am 100% sure that they will make it. Also I will give a percent grade to the guys on which percentage I think they will make the opening night rroster (ONRPP). ONRPP stands for Opening Night Roster Probability Percentage.

I KNOW WILL BE ON THE TEAM: Barkov, Huberdeau, Jagr, Trocheck, Jokinen, Smith, Bjugstad, MacKenzie and Thornton

THE GUYS I THINK WHO WILL MAKE IT

Colton Sceviour- I think Sceviour will make it based on the way Tom Rowe talks about him. I think instead of making him play a defensive game like they made him do in Dallas I think Rowe will let him show his offensive potential.  ONRPP: 95%

Jared McCann- He was acquired in the offseason by us for big D-Man Erik Gudbranson. I think McCann did well on a bad Vancouver team and he will do well away from the pressure of the Canadian media. I think he will make it and flourish away from Vancouver. ONRPP: 95%

Jonathan Marchessault- Marchessault was signed as a Free Agent. I think he is ready to make the NHL full time. He did well in Tampa. I think he will do well in a fourth line role. ONRPP: 90%

Lawson Crouse- The Sheriff In my opinion was the best guy at development camp (however I only saw one day and I heard he struggled after). I think Crouse is a mystery and I think his biggest competitor for a roster spot will be Logan Shaw but I think Crouse will beat him out for the 13th forward spot. ONRPP: 75%

THE GUYS I THINK WILL BOUNCE AROUND

Logan Shaw- I don’t see Shaw being up right away but I think he will play in the NHL a lot this year as the #1 guy to call up if there is an injury. I think he will have to battle Lawson Crouse for a spot but I think the amount of games he will play this year will be equivalent to the amount he played last year. ONRPP: 58%

Kyle Rau- Rau will be another injury sub. I think Rau will see around 30 games of NHL action this year. He is a very exciting player and did extremely well with Nick Bjugstad. Could he be the final replacement for Huberdeau as Bjugstad’s best winger (In my opinion Bjugstad did his best with Huberdeau). They did really well together. Rau is like Rocco Grimaldi except more gritty. I think we should see him a bit next year. ONRPP: 40%

Greg McKegg- McKegg will be the center injury replacement. I think he needs more AHL seasoning. McKegg scored 2 goals. He was a pretty good energy guy. I think he will be the future Derek MacKenzie. McKegg will most likely see 25 games at least I think. ONRPP: 31%

Shane Harper- Harper I have heard did well in the AHL and it’s almost time for him to make the final step. I think Harper will not see much action probably under 15 games. He should get a bit of NHL experience though. ONRPP: 9%

Connor Brickley- Brickley hopefully will be back up. He was the surprise guy who made it right out of camp and preseason but was sent down and didn’t come back up. I think he will get an opportunity though. ONRPP: 7%

PROJECTED NHL FORWARDS LINEUP

Huberdeau-Barkov-Jagr

Jokinen-Trocheck-Smith

Sceviour-Bjugstad-McCann

Crouse-MacKenzie-Marchessault

Thornton

PROJECTED AHL FORWARDS LINEUP

Brickley-Rau-Shaw

Harper-McKegg-Lammikko

Hunt-Malgin-Hawryluk

Black-Baisly-Thompson