Quote:
Originally Posted by activeStick
I can agree with the view that Hudler and Russell should be moved to allow prospects to develop and ensure the Flames have cap room for Monahan and Gaudreau, but to suggest that the prospects can step in and play at the same level as Hudler is simply not true.
Nobody in the A can fill Hudler's shoes if he leaves tomorrow.
Letting him go is the right thing to do I think, but nobody will fill his shoes in production. In fact, it'll likely be someone already in the lineup that gets bumped to the top line or the Flames try to fill the hole via trade.
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Totally agree with your entire post. Fully on board with moving Hudler, this team has no other option, as there is no long term fit (unfortunately). But the notion that Hudler will simply replaced by some already in the org. is laughable. While I don't disagree he hasn't been the same Hudler as we saw last year, there is literally no one on this team or in Stockton that is even in the same league as Hudler, it's not even close.
It's that kind of delusion that is hard to take sometimes. The over expectation of some of our prospects, and the devaluing of the vets whether it's Hudler or Bolig is insane. And it's also never consistent, it's thrown around to suit arguments. For example, Hudler will easily be replaced by someone currently on our roster, but he'll also net us a first round pick when we trade him......... it just doesn't add up. Either we are going to miss him and he's a valuable asset in a trade, or we won't miss him and he won't net us much. It can't be both.