Absolutely love this signing. It makes the Hamonic deal so much better. I felt that Hamonic in a bubble was definitely worth his acquisition cost, but it is a steep price to pay for an upgrade from Stone to Hamonic. Now the Hamonic deal is that much more awesome.
Analytics don't always get players right I feel. I like Russell as a defencemen, but I didn't want Russell back since he is useless against the big heavy teams along the boards. To me, it is difficult to put someone like Russell in the top 4. Other smaller defencemen seem able to compensate with quickness or just a better stick, but Russell just seems like he just is more an annoyance than anything.
Stone brings the capability along the boards. He can move the puck well. He shoots well. His skating is good. Everything about him to me screams "top 4 defencemen", and he is also only 26. Many defencemen start breaking out at this age.
I also subscribe to the concept that if you are going to overpay players, make the overpay defencemen. They are on the ice longer and can really control games. They are also much more difficult to replace effectively when injured. So while I may agree that paying your 5th D 3.5 million is 'too much', this adds so much depth.
Grouping the top 5 as a unit in cap hit is good. Very good. It is inevitable that Stone plays top 4 for periods of time due to injuries. I figure that Stone is going to eat up his match-ups as well. He was normally facing top-pairing guys in Arizona, was he not? Now he gets to match-up against scrubs at times. Ice should be much easier for him to control. I am a firm believer in proper slotting, and pushing two top pairing D-men (who both have played top-pairing before with great results) into a middle pairing is great, and further great if you push a top 4 defencemen (who is still young and improving) into the #5 slot. Other teams are going to have a hell of a time matching up against Calgary.
I just don't see the downside to this. Sure, it limits the prospects coming up through the pipe, but if they push their way onto the Flames then the Flames have great assets to move in trades.
If Bennett improves and develops chemistry with Versteeg, Lazar, Jankowski... whomever - the Flames will be a nightmare to play against from a match-up point of view. Their 4th line is not terrible either (well, hoping Brouwer has a bit of a bounce-back). Gulutzan will have an easy time on the road and at home, and the Flames don't have to worry about having guys get caught on a line change.
Lastly, is 3.5 million that much of an overpayment for the #5 role? I don't think so any longer. 10 years ago you paid your 6th and even 5th Ds a million or less, but these days you get washed-up players or guys on their ELCs. Now if you prioritize and control the cap right, you can maximize the talent and make ti more difficult for teams to beat you.
Ecstatic about this move.
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