Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
Brodie was a big part of the transition game and he wasn't really replaced as it's a lot to expect Valimaki to just step in the role of puck moving defenseman. I'm also not confident Gio will be as good without Brodie on the other side. Time will tell but I just don't see where additional offensive contributions from the back end are coming from with a declining Gio and no replacement for Brodie.
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Hanifin, Valimaki and Andersson must make strides and improve or this D will simply not be good enough. However if those three can progress throughout the season and beyond (especially Hanifin, he worries me the most), it could become very good, very fast. Those three all have the ability to cover up Brodie's absence as a group if they continue to improve. They are all capable of becoming or are already good puck moving dmen. That's not even factoring in Kylington who stylistically at least, is more like Brodie than those three. I see it as:
20-21
1D Giordano
3D Andersson
4D Tanev
4D Hanifin
6D Nesterov
6D Valimaki
7D Kylington
21-22 (optimistically)
1D/2D Giordano
2D Andersson
3D Hanifin
4D Valimaki
4D/5D Tanev
6D Kylington
Not even factoring in Mackey. I think the D will be fine, we just need our young guys to uptick a bit and hope Gio can hold it together until hopefully Valimaki/Andersson becomes top pairing material by 22-23 or another 1/2D is unearthed. Really think Andersson and Valimaki will be a great top pair eventually. Hanifin should be traded for a forward imo. Another stalled season will kill his trade value. Just got to hope Mackey and Kylington can move up or try to sign a guy like Vatanen if possible.