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Originally Posted by TOfan
Admittedly I didn’t read the lead up to your post. I just saw some points raised I wanted to respond to.
Fair points you raise here. The Flames do have their work cut out for themselves. I do believe, and agree with Treliving’s assessment, that this team underperformed. I can see a return to the playoffs with a normal season and division alignment next year. He could be criticized for not acting sooner, but I don’t think that will be the case this offseason. I could see a scenario where he make a change to the core that most of us see coming (Gaudreau or Monahan) and maybe another that people don’t see coming, or at least not being discussed as often (Hanifin, Backlund). Just a guess on my part though.
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Yeah I think with the Monahan rumors of last season, another trade will be explored. I also agree with you that I could see Hanifin on the move too. Not necessarily because he was bad, it was probably his best season as a Flame. But the evidence suggests it could happen. The pinch point is obviously the expansion draft and some one has to go.
I keep going back to the “entitlement” term Darryl used. In the end, he really pushed the veterans of the team over the kids this season. Under Ward, the Dube’s and the Hanifin’s played prominent top line/pairing roles. Once Darryl arrived, the Dube’s and the Valimaki’s were benched/scratched and Hanifin was demoted from top pair to #4. So, I won’t personally be surprised if one or two moves involving these young players occurs.
Also, in the presser, I’m not sure I remember Treliving speaking much about Hanifin. He praised Andersson and Mangiapane growth, but does anyone remember hearing Hanifin’s name? If not, I wonder if that might be another hint as to what’s to come.