Down to the last choices for keepers, and I need help.

[The Bottlenecker]

I haven't posted since January, but this friggin pandemic bulls&%# threw me for a loop, and hockey talk was not on the radar. Anyways, I have been watching the playoffs and am slowly getting back into my keeper league duties of deciding who to keep and who goes for the first team in my signature.

I have boiled it down to these four guys for the last two spots:

Batherson, Ottawa
Buchnevich, Rangers
Dvorak, Coyotes
Zucker, Penguins

I am not going to be in contention this coming season, so I am thinking long term here which is why I am not completely sold on Zucker as an obvious pick given the potential of the other, younger guys. So what do you guys think?

[Eskimo Brother]

I think you should be able to trade Zucker for more than either by the end of the first month of the season. I do like the other two though. Any other options to drop instead?

[The Bottlenecker]

Updated my choices to include Christian Dvorak. Ooops!

[Belexus75]

Zucker and Batherson. As stated above you can flip zucker for some picks or solid prospects once season starts ...specially if he starts good. Batherson has potential and other 2 are what they are imo.

[jshed2]

Zucker and Dvorak for me.

I'm worried about Buchnevich's future with the NYR now that their getting Laf. I'd expect their top 6 to look something like this fairly early in the season:

Panarin - Zibanejad - Kakko
Kreider - Strome - Lafreniere

Leaving Buch the odd man out. And then I'd prefer the sure things in Dvorak and Zucker over Batherson who has a similar ceiling as Dvorak but also a much lower floor.

[stevegamer]

I think the keep Zucker and flip him if you want idea is the best.

That leaves the other 3, and Buchnevich I think needs a change of team. Dvorak and Batherson seem similar to me, but maybe you can flip one or two of them in a deal for a unpgrade or a pick. I view them as in the same tier, more or less.

[chuckcouples]

Dvorak

Zucker
Batherson

Buchnevich

[Axeman33]

Dvorak and Batherson for me.

I love how people think that Lafreniere coming in will affect the right wing side though. He's a LW. Always has been and doesn't play the right side like Buchnevich. If that's all you've played, changing sides isn't just a simple move to the other side of the faceoff dot. Just because he's getting drafted 1st overall doesnt automatically mean he's plugged into the top six as a rookie. He could start on the 3rd line LW as an adjustment period. Kreider could be moved down to the 3rd line, but thats not a smart allocation of a big contract. Simply put, the Rangers will draft Lafreniere 1st overall and will have a glutton of LWs on their roster and need to make moves to fix that problem. Just moving someone to the right side is easy to say and do on paper, but doesnt always work on the ice.

[Eskimo Brother]

I think you should be able to trade Zucker for more than either by the end of the first month of the season. I do like the other two though. Any other options to drop instead?

My second choice after Zucker would be Batherson.

[saucelife90]

The Zucker flip isn't a bad idea unless he starts slow and then you're stuck with him. I would just go with Batherson.

[LuigiC173]

Zucker

[The Bottlenecker]

Renewing this thread as my final list is due after the Stanley Cup finals.

Anyone else with some thoughts on my choices?

[tweetdrivr]

I like Batherson and Dvorak for me. Any other developments since your last post?

[The Bottlenecker]

I like Batherson and Dvorak for me. Any other developments since your last post?

Nothing new. There have not been many trades since the start of the pandemic so not much has changed. Thanks for the opinion.