Jordan Bennington, the rookie who has been in the system since 2013, is expected to get the
majority of the time in the net - he can play in a maximum of 48 games. Curtis McElhinney will pick
up the remaining starts, and if Bennington struggles or gets injured can appear in a max of 50
games. Antii Niemi is the 3rd goalie and would only see the ice in an emergency situation.
Defensemen:
Roman Josi returns as team captain and as the #1 Dman. He saw time with several partners in
the pre-season but is expected to open the campaign with Ben Chiarot on his flank. Chiarot has
toiled as the Millers 7th Dman the last couple of years but comes into this season with his best
shot at a regular lineup spot.
Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce seem locked-in as the 2nd pairing, with Pesce seen as the
perfect compliment to Hamilton’s offensive aggressiveness. Pesce is no zero with the puck and
could see 2nd unit Power-Play time.
Dmitri Orlov will pair with Troy Stecher on the 3rd pairing. Orlov was on the top unit with Josi
last season but the duo was split up to get Chiarot’s muscle alongside Josi and to spread the
offense across the D pairings. Stecher is not in Pesce’s class as a 2 way defenseman but he’s
solid and would likely move to the top pair if Chiarot struggles.
Mike Green is the 7th Dman and will most often be utilized as a PP specialist in a 7 man D set-
up. None of the blueliners have major injury concerns so Green will only see the ice if the PP
struggles or multiple forwards are hurt. Brett Kulak and Dean Kukan are also around but don’t figure to see much action until next season.
Forwards:
For a team with championship aspirations, the Millers have controversially decided to eschew
using a true #1 Center, instead of using Brayden Schenn and Michael Backlund as their top 6
pivots. Schenn and Backlund’s numbers are not what one expects from a “top-line” Center but
the Millers prefer to attack in waves and still be defensively responsible. Teuvo Teravainen and
Justin Williams will line up as wings on one line with Jakub Voracek and Brett Boeser on the
other but expect a lot of fluidity with this top 6.
The 3rd line features a newcomer, a returnee and a player looking to rebound from a rough
previous season. Paul Byron is the newcomer and he will trade off with returnee Patric Hornqvist
on both wings. Byron will be counted on as a key penalty-killer and also provide around 30 to 40
points. Hornqvist should see some PP time and would be the probable pick to move up if an
injury strikes a top 6 wing. The rebound is hopefully coming from Cody Eakin, who had chances
last season with the Millers but could not keep a lineup spot. Eakin will also be used as a
penalty-killer. Both Byron and Hornqvist have some injury concerns.
Jeff Carter returns to Georgetown after a brief move to Dayton. He has embraced his new role
as bottom 6 forward and PP contributor. Expect Carter to see most of his time at RW, although
he is slated to play C on the 2nd PP unit. He would also move up to the 3rd line if an injury
opened up a spot. Radek Faksa has spent the last couple of years as Georgetown’s 3rd line
Center and chief penalty-killer but seems likely to see his role reduced this year. He’s still
expected to contribute on the PK but it appears Eakin and possibly Backlund have moved
ahead of him in the pecking order. Jordan Martinook rounds out the 4th line - his crash and
bang style and penalty-killing prowess endeared him to Millers fans after his early season
signing last year. He’s counted on to do more of the same this year.
Forward depth will be supplied by Jason Dickinson and Tobias Rieder, with rookies Jesperi
Kotkaniemi and Warren Foegele biding their time in the minors. Dickinson would be most likely
to step into an opening due to injury, and if there were multiple lineup spots open due to health
it’s likely the club would utilize Green as a 7th Dman before letting Rieder see the ice.
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