Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
It was a "slam-dunk" for the Flames. I mean that in the sense that the team is a lot better as a direct result of that trade. It was also a "slam-dunk" for Carolina. The thing that annoys me is that posters insist on declaring a winner when BOTH TEAMS WON. That is part of what makes this trade really difficult to judge: Both teams have no regrets; both teams are better for it.
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You are right about this, but aren't you also guilty of the same hyperbole to make your point by labeling Hanifin as a "below average #4 defenseman," whose development has "stalled"?
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No, that is not hyperbole. He’s poor possession wise, points wise and makes regular defensive gaffes. He still has potential, as I have pointed out, but if what we see now is what we are gonna get (which is every bit as possible as him taking the next step is) then that’s gotta be looked at as a big disappointment. Don’t know how opining that his development has seemingly stalled out can be called hyperbole. This season is on pace for 18 points, is still not very good possession wise and still makes big defensive mistakes. He hasn’t really improved upon his last season in Carolina yet. Seems stalled to me. Can definitely change, no doubt but all we have to make observations on are the play he’s putting forth now and to me it looks stalled. I’ll agree with the guy who says he’d like to see Hanifin with another partner, I wonder if Hamonic (whose also taken a fair step back from last season) is holding him back a bit.
Also unsure about it being a slam dunk for both teams but just agree to disagree there. When Giordano is done (and unfortunately that decline may be beginning) we’re really going to wish we had a player like Hamilton. Hopefully Anderson or Valimaki become that because even if Hanifin takes the next step I don’t think No 1 d man is ever in the cards for him.