Quote:
Originally Posted by agulati
Agreed. I would even say that, to a lesser extent, about Valimaki. He is coming off a complete lost year due to injury.
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Valimaki's a bit different, in that he has elite hockey sense. Might be the smartest defenseman the Flames have had since prime Giordano. Between that, his size, his skating, and his pedigree, it's safe to say Valimaki deserves a chance not only on the roster, but in the top four.
I also feel the same way about Kylington though.
Both players deserve some real opportunity next year, not to be treated with Kid Gloves. Of course they'll have moments with gaffes and moments where they're caught overextending and out of position. But the more icetime you feed them, the more confidence they'll build until they're cruising. The goal should be to maximize both players' confidence by playoff time.
I agree with Mackey though. Let him get used to the pro game. If he excels, elevate him but don't expect him to excel.