These things get repetitive by nature, but I'll chime in with a different wrinkle
Looking forward to the games within the game this season because of the Flames sudden depth on the blueline. For most of last season the Flames had a pairing and a defender to deploy against teams with two great lines, with Wideman getting exposed. In the final quarter of the season and playoffs they upped that to two pairs, but it was still a cat and mouse game with getting Engelland and Bartkowski on the ice for periods of time.
Do you put them out there with Backlund's line to ensure there is no damage? Or do you keep the Backlund line to go with Giordano and Hamilton so you can dominate and push for a goal? Such a juggling act for Gulutzan.
This year it's Giordano and Hamilton followed by a upgraded 2nd pairing from the final quarter and a trickle down that sees Stone on a third pairing. Stone isn't a lights out defenseman but the trickle down effect is going to make watching Flames hockey fun this season, especially if Kulak can show improvement through the season.
Less tire fire shifts, and more flexibility to stack the top two forward lines with the top two pairings without being scared spitless of what that third unit will do with the scraps.
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