Jeff Gorton has identified Patrik Laine's replacement alongside Kirby Dach
Kirby Dach will need a new winger for the next two to three months, and Vice President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton has just provided the most likely answer.
Indeed, Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach will need a new partner, and while the logical choice would be Josh Anderson, Gorton would rather bet on a younger player.
Oliver Kapanen, Emil Heineman, and Joshua Roy auditioning to replace Patrik Laine
These are three very talented young players who are having good camps, especially in the case of Kapanen, who we are getting to know. Emil Heineman has grown in the organization and has paid his dues, but the most plausible choice remains Joshua Roy.
His hockey intelligence and talent make him an ideal player to play in the top 6, but his effort needs to be more consistent. This is, in fact, what has always been criticized about him, in junior, in the AHL, and in the NHL.
If he has a good finish to camp, he will have a spot, but he will be sitting on a hot seat. If he drags his feet, he will be replaced quite quickly.
After registering 9 points in 23 games last year, Joshua Roy will still be considered a rookie in the NHL. Remember that the rule states that to be considered a rookie, a player must be under 26 years old, must not have played more than 25 games in the NHL in a single season, and must not have played more than 5 games in two previous seasons.
| POLL | ||
Who would you like to see replace Patrik Laine? | ||
| Oliver Kapanen | 135 | 52.7 % |
| Joshua Roy | 66 | 25.8 % |
| Josh Anderson | 37 | 14.5 % |
| Emil Heineman | 18 | 7 % |
| List of polls | ||
