[GranteedEV]

Re: Sarich

The Flames had some talented teams back then and were held back by constantly playing Bouwmeester and Giordano with Sarich. Sarich might have had some positives that people who love physical play loved but people really forget how much of a shackle he was on overall team play. We also paid him like a top 4 guy when he should have been a third pair guy at best. He wasn't Chris Butler bad but he was a blight on this team with how we used him. The Brent Sutter era was not a pleasant era and only had a few positives and Sarich was not one of them. I don't think it's a coincidence Sarich and Hartley never saw eye to eye and while Hartley had his flaws, he was still a coach who kind of favoured the skill game like I do.

Maybe Sarich was more effective before the lockout, when you could basically bearhug guys defensively and there was no two line pass. I don't doubt it. But I never loved him in his time here and if fans of his intangibles take exception to that, it's their right but let's not act like he was Regehr or Hamonic.

Re: Kulak
He wasn't an offensive defenseman or a physical player, but he was incredibly steady. I think he will have a very solid career as an all-arounder defenseman. But I valued Hamonic less last year because we had Hamilton and Brodie, who I felt should have been playing on the right side for us instead of forced on a pair with Hamonic on the left. Without Hamilton, Hamonic is far more valuable to us at present than Kulak would be. But that doesn't mean Kulak doesn't have the ability to be part of a really effective defense pair within his limitations. MMF can "small sample size" me all he wants but his success with Weber was no coincidence - it was a nice fit of complementsty skillsets and two very steady players. They've since played Mete more with Weber and their top pair hasn't been so steady, but I guess they want Mete to get that development which is valid.

I'm not going to apologize for my opinions, even if I know some people like MMF/LWCrowfoot think so ill of me as to petulantly diss me on other forums. I'd rather be true to myself than try to please others, though I know sometimes I can be condescending online without meaning to be. I am sorry about the condescension.