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Old 02-26-2019, 04:12 PM   #351
Jiri Hrdina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrdonkey View Post
Honest question, what is it about Valimaki that makes him so untouchable? He’s a nice prospect but is he really that much of a blue-chipper that you don’t even consider moving him for a 26-year-old player who’s already an established star? The way he’s talked about you’d think he was lighting the AHL on fire.

For all we know he tops out as a 2nd pairing dman or becomes the next Tim Erixon. Which is far more likely than becoming the heir apparent to a Norris-caliber defenseman.

Not meaning this as a slight against the player, just not understanding the level of hype and value he seems to carry with him.
If the team projected him to be just another Tom Erixon then indeed they would have easily given him up in the deal.
All teams have to be able to look ahead and project where players are. Certainly in their post draft years those projections start to become more firm.
And in the Flames mind, they clearly view him as a core piece. Probably projecting him to be a top pairing guy, perhaps the heir to Gio's throne eventually.

And I would agree that he is the most likely to attain that level - more than Andersson or Kylington, or even Hanifin.

It's not hype. It's the organizations projections.
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