Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
Andersson is a great young guy - much better than I thought he would be. However, his foot speed is something that top lines will try to exploit at times. I don't think he is ready to move up. Hamonic doesn't move the puck well enough in my opinion to just seamlessly replace Brodie. The only area where Hamonic is better than Brodie is right in front of the net in moving out bodies - otherwise, Brodie is just as good if not better defensively. You can't move out Brodie unless you are sure you have a replacement that can come in and do his job without too much of a hiccup. Flames don't have that.
Giordano is also getting older. Hanifin has been MUCH better than advertised defensively, but he is not rock-solid like Giordano is. However, Flames have 3 shots at the can on that left side - Hanifin, Valimaki and Kylington - all really good, smart, great skating, 2-way defencemen. Even then I don't think Giordano gets traded given his role.
I think it is more likely Hamonic gets dealt, or Kylington. That 2nd pairing has been rock-steady though, and I would hate to break it up. I would hate to get rid of any of Valimaki, Kylington or Andersson. I do think in the off-season that it will happen, but I would be shocked if it was Brodie. There is nobody on that right side that is capable of replacing Brodie.
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I'm with you - I'd rather keep Brodie and move someone else too, probably Hamonic unless Brodie wants over $6 million on his next contract. I don't think Gio would be as effective with Hamonic for the reasons you've stated.
Our other defensemen might have the skillset to replace Brodie but there's big question marks with each of them. Andersson's lack of foot speed is a concern. Valimaki/Kylington/Hanifin are all naturally LD, if one of them has to switch over I'd rather have one of them build themselves up slowly on RD on the 2nd/3rd pairings.
Replacing Hamonic with one of younger D is less risky than replacing Brodie with one of younger D IMO.