You're probably right about Johnson. I just bumped him up since Maine is set to lose a minimum of five forwards this offseason (Makar, Mitton, Scott, Breen, and Renwick), with the latter three all being centers. Johnson is the oldest guy listed as a center, and with only three '04 birth years I thought it would be unlikely that they bring in three transfer centers, so they would need at least a few guys to play C.
This is what I have for a line up for next year. I have three openings and suspect they would want center types two left shot centers and one right shot center to balance it out since in the bottom six I list 5 of the 6 are right shot. I assume since they can be going to 26 scholarships and limit likely Carney would be replaced since he isn’t playing in games. Not sure if it is a medical reason or what is up with him. Also since they are only going to be allowed 26 spots they likely can’t afford to keep 3 goalies anymore. So I imagine Stewart might be a casualty of this 26 roster limit idiocy. I personally the say you can have two extra spots that have to be non-scholarship. This way you can have third goalie and extra walk on forward like Carney on the team. But assuming that is not the case here is a view of what we have coming back and what we likely need assuming not guys go pro early. Since the defense will be upperclassmen and there are already enough returning defensemen I think Breazeale’s spot gets filled by promotion rather than a rookie.
Maine 2025/26 Lineup
Seniors - 4
Juniors - 12
Sophmores - 4
Freshmen - 3
Freel(3.5)/Komarov(3.5)/J. Nadeau(4.5)
Scholle(3.5)/Fowler(3.75)/Russell(3.75)
Gerrior(3.75)/Pichette(3.5)/Niemo(3.5)
Califiore(3.5)/James(3.75)/Peluso(3.75)
LC/LW: ? / ?
RC/RW: ?
*Holt(3.5)/Chabrier(3.75)
Lesakowski(3.75)/Djurecevic(3.75)
Dalton(3.5)/Nobes(3.5)
RD: Antonnaci(3.5), Arnott(3.5), Morse(3.5)
Bioja
Berzins(3.75)
Graduated:
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Mitton - RW - physical, high motor, quick release, cannon one timer, pp weapon
Makar - LW - big skates well, physical, net front, grinder, good in transition
Renwick - LC- big frame, skates well, physical, net front
Breen - LC - small, nifty, quick, playmaker, high skill, leader
Scott - LC - fast, skilled, great wrister, great face offs, leader
Breazeale - LD - big stalwart, pucklugger, leader
Gerrior(Breen)
Peluso(Mitton)
James(Renwick)
?(Makar)
?(Scott)
?(Breazeale)
Rookies:
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Gerrior(OHL-0) - 2nd RW - agile handler, quick, burst, quick shot, works
Peluso(BCHL-0)- 1st RW - shifty, deceptively, a buzz saw
James(USHL-0)- 3rd RC - strong on the puck, good in the corners, good passer