Wow that took a lot of reading ...
I'd only be reiterating what every one said, so I'll add this.
To me Granlund was about to become Calgary's Joe Colborne from a Toronto perspective. The plan all along was to get Bennett to center and with the season lost they made that move and then poof no spot for Granlund.
That wasn't going to change going into next season.
Monahan will be back.
Bennett will be back.
I really like Backlund's game and I'm guessing they do too.
Stajan is tough to move and they like him in the room.
Add in Jankowski turning pro, Arnold, maybe Grant back and things get very tight up the middle.
With Granlund waiver eligible I could see the team up against it on October 5th and dealing him in the best deal available.
That deal wouldn't fetch them another team's first round pick from 2013.
This takes the pressure off the Flames and puts it firmly on the Canucks, as the Baertschi deal did. That worked for Vancouver, a tough start where he should have been demoted but wasn't has seen Baertschi somewhat productive.
Now with Sedin, Horvat, Sutter, McCann, McVey down the middle they have to shoe horn Granlund in or he gets lost too. Other option is move him to the wing but Treliving said yesterday they tried that in the AHL and it didn't work.
Shinkaruk still has issues for me. Hated his interview stuff leading up to the draft, and heard from many that he was a guy that developed early and then will stop growing and get passed by his peers. His season in the AHL this year gives hope though as he's no longer dominating teen agers.
Either way I see it as great asset management, and a very interesting flier.
|