Quote:
Originally Posted by jonkaupp
Ignoring first paragraph because major eye roll.
Totally fine with those arguments, perhaps you could have gone with that first rather than ‘all defencemen contend for the Norris’
The crux of it is if you like Hanifin and don’t think Hamilton is an elite no 1 D, then you probably love the trade. If you are worried about Hanifin being tapped out (because right now he isn’t very good) and believe Hamilton is an elite no 1 defence men then you probably don’t love the trade but take solace in the fact that you got Lindholm on a beauty contract
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I consider Hamilton an elite offensive defenceman. Carolina will be enjoying this for a while once they pony up a new contract. They have quite a few talented forwards in their group.
Lindholm has been one of our best forwards all year. Once the cap of Dougie comes in next season I’d almost be happy with where we are at right here.
Then there is Hanifin who I believe you are really understating. He is, at his absolute worst, a serviceable top 4 NHL dman. This season he is 3rd in blocks, and 3rd in hits (leading flames D) on the team. 2nd in Time on Ice (both averaged and actual). His +\- is low, there is no debating that. But the team has also struggled and that is a stat that can fluctuate wildly. He has physical ability in size and speed, and hopefully progresses.
Overall I see the Flames improving a position of weakness by utilizing depth at a strength. Dougie will be in the league still when we would likely use him, but we had a glaring need for a forward and ended up with a great 2 way forward at that. That’s why I think both teams won.