Quote:
Originally Posted by dissentowner
I think it does matter. Why would you burn a year when you don't have to. It isn't like we really need his contributiions this year. Him playing is the difference between losing one of him, Kylington, Hanifin, or Andersson to Seattle. If he doesn't play you risk none of them.
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The expansion draft is still over a year away, and like it or not the GM is obligated to ice the best team he can now. There is every reason to believe that when healthy Valimaki is one of the Flames's top-six defensemen, and with the Flames in the thick of a tightly contested playoff race I don't see management or coaches choosing to leave him out of games.
There is also the player to consider in this as well. If Valimaki is dispatched to the AHL to play for no reason other than to save the team from expansion protection that can't at all sit well with the player, who would be losing not only the chance to play NHL games , but also NHL money. How many players do you think would put up with that sort of cap circumvention at the expense of his development and career?