Who I think will be back and who I’d have back are two different questions I suppose as it’ll be down to personal circumstance etc
Eberle,
Troncinsky,
Hrabel would be definite.
Duba? Maybe but I’d like to think a younger import goal tender would be the way to go.
Vallerand and Connolly (if he does indeed class as an import) absolutely.
The rest I’d like to think we can upgrade upon.
*Edit*
Forgot about Sandstorm, he’s really impressed in recent weeks. I’d keep him on also.
The trouble is, we as fans can never really say for certain who we would have back out of the marginal players or the ones likely to retire or move on simple because we cant really say who is out there and at what price and also what skills and attributes me may be after...
For instance Sandstrom, he has really impressed me too, but not has much as some of the other forwards a great 3rd line guy for sure...
But if you were Fox and you had a mean as hell 6' 5" power forward in a similar mould to Colt king with age on his side and a whole heap of AHL experience hanging on the hook wanting a decent wage and a 2 year MBA course at Sheffield Uni then you may be looking at who you keep and who you dont a little more closely , especially has some of them will be after another chunk of change on top of this years wage...
DeLuca to me is more than the sum of his parts, to me he is very much in the mould of some of our more legendary players, Ok not as good by some way, but here is the thing, Like Connolly and Vallerand he buys into the Steelers Identity, he wants to be a Steeler and by and large the Steelers fans want him and so does the coach.
When building a team you need those types of guys and one thing is for certain every team in the league would be after him. Vallerand, Connolly, Eberle and Deluca are a marketing dream and with 185 points between them so far this season! not to shabby as players either... If any of them want to stay and from what Ive read and/or heard all of them do, then I would tie them down now to extended contracts while we still can...
Deluca, Lemtuygov, Connolly and Vallerand. Sign them before the play offs and before any other coach comes touting. Followed by Sandstrom.
In fact any of the forwards I wouldn't be unhappy about.
D core Could do with a upgrade. 3 as I see it. Duba as net minder coach or back up.
