I think what this organization needs is a system change incorporating the defence more in generating offence - something that Peters seems to be on board with. The other thing they need (setting aside the PP for now - we can all agree on the importance of hiring an assistant with a good mind for a PP), is hiring an assistant that has a track record of making defencemen play better.
Maybe that's Yawney. Maybe that's Playfair. I don't know. Maybe Peters is enough. What I do know for sure is that the Calgary Flames have a penchant for allowing way too many glorious chances against. Too many breakaways, too many odd-man rushes.
I am not convinced this team NEEDS to trade a defencemen for a forward in order to score more goals. I think revising the system should lead to that. I think the Flames left a lot of points on the table last season because they didn't involve the defencemen more - I think the defencemen not only should have put more points on the board, but they would have directly impacted the offence for the bottom lines with 'third assists' (started the quick transition, helped to provide confusion, etc).
I have become much more interested in who the Flames hire to help Peters more than what blockbuster trade the Flames may make. I don't love Hamilton, but I do think that removing him makes this group weaker. Giordano is the most underrated defencemen in the NHL - I can't name another defencemen that has that much of an impact on his partners AND plays absolutely solid in all zones. Brodie is a whipping boy, but I think it is exaggerated. Even so, Brodie when he is playing well has such a presence on this team and is by far the most dynamic defencemen - get him playing consistently well again, and it becomes a huge shot in the arm.
If there is one defencemen that I would't mind traded it is Stone. I am not sure if Andersson is ready for a full-time gig - lots of defencemen entering the league look fantastic and then kind of slow down a lot (though I think his speed might be a weakness that he needs to improve), but I am a believer in Andersson + Kylington + Valimaki and even Wotherspoon if he is retained by the organization (which is doubtful, but who knows for sure). Fox is going back to the NCAA, so he isn't in the conversation for this season.
Kulak has a full season now of experience, and I though he didn't put up many points (a theme under the old regime, but that may be unfair given Kulak's experience), I thought he exceeded expectations with his decent defensive play and his ability to move the puck up the ice with such poise. I think he can anchor a third pairing IF that pairing is somewhat sheltered to start. Kylington would be my choice there - I think he out-performed Andersson in last season's training camp, and his speed is flat-out amazing. This team needs to play faster, and having a bottom pairing like Kulak - Kylington (assuming Peters isn't dead-set on R-L pairings) would be great I think.
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