Quote:
Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague
Yeah, all of this is why it's an awful signing. Flames started winning once Stone was acquired and people correlated his acquisition with the winning streak as if he was the reason. He was actually pretty bad.
https://flamesnation.ca/2017/03/18/m...-being-better/
So, no, he's not a legit top four defenceman. He's a legit bottom pairing defenceman. Which is fine. But he's being paid like a legit top four defenceman, and there are other guys who are better who could have been had for less. They finally got Deryk Engelland off the books and signed someone who's not really any better for more money and three years, and it costs them a draft pick.
Again, this is to the Flames as Kris Russell is to the Oilers, just for less money. It's not a crippling, team-destroying contract, nor is he a non-NHL defenceman being paid NHL money (a la Luca Sbisa for Vegas)... but it's a bad way to use cap space and with Brouwer already eating cap he doesn't deserve, you really would rather not have two of those guys on your team at the same time.
Yup. Exactly this. |
He is what he is but he will be in a different role this year. Very unlikely he'll see anywhere near 57% defensive zone starts next year in the 3rd pair. Take away last year where he was buried with defensive zone starts and he's been slightly below average.
With Hamonic and Brodie both signed for much less than defense of their level, I guess the Flames feel they can overpay for the 5th d-man role.