[TheScorpion]

I can see the rationale for making the deal. Chiarot is a similar guy who exceeded expectations and they're looking for some additional toughness, which is hard to quantify. I can certainly see merit in giving Edmundson a low-commitment deal and a sheltered role where he's used primarily on the PK (which is the one spot where he appeared to be at least okay in Carolina).

But the Habs have been burned before with guys like Karl Alzner who were touted as defensive specimens before the wheels fell off. Edmundson is a little bit younger but I don't think he's ever been as good as Alzner was at his peak with the Caps.

Btw I am not of the mind that analytics "prove" anything. They are a topic for discussion and they help to inform opinions. But what really matters ultimately is winning, no matter how you get there. That's how you prove anything. Edmundson has won, and there's no disputing that he's been there and knows what it takes. That has value. I'm just saying that I don't think the odds are in his favour to do it again, that's all.

Ultimately I still stand by my assessment of his on-ice impact as pretty poor. But guys have good and bad years and everyone has a unique trajectory. All we can do as observers is try to make sense of things.