The D trade should have been done last year and wasn't. It's the same problem now 2 years in. It's a money waste and a roster spot waste. That said, you can maybe get a 5th round pick for one of the bubble guys. I'd just take it at this point.
Sucks that Methot is injured to start the season, but I guess it gives us a bit of breathing space on the roster. A decision or trade will need to be made sooner or later, but this gives them a bit of a longer look in real game situations before having to decide for sure what they are going to do.
Methot is playing with fire. He has no leverage. he's hurt and coming off a horrible year. he has a chance to ride EK65's coat tails. he should sign the deal and realize he's lucky to get such an opportunity.
The full story can be found here. The opening lineup is:
Forwards: Alex Chiasson, Erik Condra, Colin Greening, Mike Hoffman, Curtis Lazar, David Legwand, Clarke MacArthur, Milan Michalek, Chris Neil, Bobby Ryan, Zack Smith, Mark Stone, Kyle Turris, Mika Zibanejad.
Defencemen: Mark Borowiecki, Cody Ceci, Jared Cowen, Eric Gryba, Erik Karlsson, Marc Methot (injured reserve), Chris Phillips, Patrick Wiercioch
Goaltenders: Craig Anderson, Robin Lehner
The final cuts: JGP, Puempel, Robinson, Claesson, Greenham, Dziurzynski, A. Grant, Johnson
I'm not surprised to see Lazar make the team, and it was made easy by having Methot on IR, but I don't see him going beyond the 9 game limit as he's not going to get top 6 minutes and it would be stupid to burn a year of EL on bottom 6, likely 4th line, minutes.