Connor Dewar

I think the third line probably will be some combination of Kuzmenko, Kindle, and Robertson.

And then who is on that fourth line? Is Connor Dewar maybe somebody who moves up? Blake Lizotte signed an extension.

You can sharpie him in as the fourth line center for sure.

And then what about Omer Soderblom and Justin Brazzo? So those are kind of the areas I'm going to be watching.

I don't think he's gonna hit the heights that Mantha did this past season, but I still think he could be a good bet for 20 to 25.

And then on the fourth line, Conor Dewar and Blake Lizotte are my main two for those, Pat.

That, that's the thing, is we've talked about it a bit this offseason.

There is basically one spot open at forward, and they have a ton of forwards competing for that one spot.

For $5 million in that role, he's gotta put up at least 20 goals in that role.

I know that seems like a lot, but 5 million, one-year prove-it deal, we're gonna need at least 20 out of you.

And then Lizotte and Dewar, they were just so good together last year in their fourth line roles that it was one of the more effective fourth lines in the National Hockey League.

And then that brings us to the big competition.

I don't think he'd be best cast there to start this season, but he has the capability.

He has the skill set to be able to play on the first line, and he has the ability to play on the fourth line with guys like Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar.

He fits the mold more so than a guy like Billy Covenant, more so than a guy like Rutger McGroarty or Tristan Brose or Hendrix LaPierre.

There are other players down there that might get an opportunity to make their debut this season that would fit that fourth line role, but it's probably too early for them.

Guys like Tanner Howe, Bill Zonin.

So if you're looking for a player, and I talked about this a little bit in that first segment, that could step up and battle for that fourth line right wing position with Elmer Soderblom and Justin Brazeau and Phillip Hollander, Avery Hayes is your guy.

That fourth line slot next to Blake Lazat, next to Connor Dewar, that feels like it's made for Avery Hayes.

Yeah, Soderblom is a very good player, and I think that that's why I have him as the favorite to win that job out of camp.

Between them.

having that track record and Ben Kindle being still 19 years old and yes showing last year that he can be a very good 200 foot player he is 19 years old and attaching him to two players that aren't particularly known for their play in that end is going to put a lot of extra pressure on Ben Kindle I think to alleviate that pressure you move kuzmenko up with Crosby which will help them mesh offensively up there and you put raquel with kindle not only to give him a guy that he can trust to finish the opportunities that he sets up in the offensive zone but he can trust in the defensive zone a little bit more as well so i like that as your third line i think that that could be your third line whenever you open things up against the flyers and then the fourth line is two free spaces, right? Connor Dewar is going to be your opening night left wing on the fourth line.

Blake Lizotte is your fourth line center, but that right spot could have five or six different players that are battling to become the fourth line right wing to begin the season.

In fact, that's why I have 14 forwards is because I think there are three different players that are all going to be able to slot into that role if need be.

He finished so well last year on that line that they pushed him up to the third line at the start of playoffs.

Let's not forget, whenever the season, the regular season ended last year, Blake Lizotte was out of the lineup.

Connor Dewar was banged up and in and out of the lineup.

Elmer Soderblom, as a result, stepped in and played the last 20 games of the season on the fourth line.

No questions there.

Connor Dewar, he will be on the fourth line.

Had a great year.

Very deserved contract.

It was a very balanced offensive attack for the Pittsburgh penguins last year, 10 players scored 15 or more goals with the pens last year.

And then you add on the fact that Connor Dewar just missed that mark by scoring 14 as a fourth liner.

Then you add on the fact that Nola Chari was just too shy of that scoring 13 as a fourth liner.

It felt like the penguins came at you in so many different ways.