Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
Because your team is better with that "defensive depth" not being a regular, and that contract virtually dictates that player being a regular.
You think ownership is okay with Stone being in the press box for the next two years, even if that's where he ought to be? At 3.5M/2Y, that's not a guy you want eating popcorn.
Not only does his salary force (yet another, as if Raymond/Brouwer/Bouma weren't enough) buyout of year 3 of his deal, it kills any return value Stone might hypothetically have (assuming he has any, which I don't know if he does). No one will trade for Stone if he is a regular healthy scratch. But he's not good enough to make the team better. That cap space could, however, make the team better.
Trading him sooner rather than later is common sense at this point because we've seen how ineffective he is without OEL / Brodie setting him up for a bunch of one-timers, which is his only real NHL-level skill.
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There should be zero urgency to move a defenseman. If we get out of October without an injury to the blue line, I'll stop smoking weed.
Stone is always going to be moveable. He's a useful NHL player, he's enormous, and he's only under contract for 20 more months at $3M. And nobody has ever missed the playoffs because of Michael Stone's quality 16 minutes a night.
Life finds a way. Andersson, Kylington and Valimaki are going to make Hamonic, Kulak and Stone expendable. Until they actually do, roll with Hamonic, Stone, and Kulak and trust that the cream will rise to the top. The management knows how good the three prospect D are, and they know the limitations on Hamonic/Stone/Kulak.
Every one of the kids has it in them to be light years better than the guys ahead of them. So prove it. And until they do, the Flames can continue to roll out serviceable NHL talent night in and night out.
The team hasn't struggled defensively because the players suck.
Gio-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Kulak-Stone
That's not the best blue line ever, but it doesn't suck, and if a coach can't make that work, it's on the coach. If you watch AC's videos of TJ Brodie making 120 ft tape to tape passes in the air through neutral zone off his backhand from the right side and your response is 'HUR DUR LEFT SHOT ON LEFT SIDE CUZ REASONS!', you're a ####ing fool.
The team has struggled defensively because the last two coaches have not been up to the task of being head coaches in the modern NHL.
Early pre-season returns are, Bill Peters is not a fool. Hope remains.