I think the Flames are in a difficult situation next season when it comes to the defence. Here is my take (which I know is NOT going to be very unpopular here).
After losing Giordano to the expansion draft (and barring any other acquisitions), the Flames will limp into the season with 3 #4 defencemen.
Yes, that's what they have. I think they are missing a #1, a #2 and a #3 defencemen.
I believe your #1 and #2 defencemen have to be 2-way defencemen that are capable of putting up points, and generating offence. Giordano and Brodie were excellent at this as a unit. They have to be good defensively and offensively. They have to help you not lose games, but they also have to help you win games.
The #3 defencemen. What is he? I think it is like a 1 or 2, but maybe a bit of a question mark defensively. Not awful, just not as competent. He should have some offensive ability to say the least, and you can pair him with a guy like Tanev to form a really good pairing (which I think is Giordano - Tanev now).
I think Hanifin is a good #4 too - not a whole lot of offensive ability, but strong defensively and a strong skater. Tanev is a #4 to me too - elite defensively, but weak on offence and in the transition. Andersson to me is a weaker #4 - I think he suffers from a lack of footspeed and gets caught defensively, and though he has a wonderful shot, hasn't learned to get it off quick enough and doesn't seem to have much in the way of offensive vision or creativity (which is what made Brodie excellent as a #2).
They were already at the bottom 1/3rd or bottom 1/4 of the league in offence from defencemen. I don't see it improving. Tanev is not suddenly going to find an offensive side to his game. Hanifin doesn't have a shot - wrister or slapper - that is dangerous, and he doesn't have Brodie's vision and playmaking ability to make him a quick-transition type of D. Andersson is slow on his skates, and though this may sound a bit rude, kind of slow in the brain (just seems to take too long in making the right decision, and seems to almost telegraph his intentions before actually committing).
I don't have any confidence in the Flames' D.
They are going to be one of the worst offensive D-corps in the league next year - bottom 5 for sure - unless they find someone to be a #1 and a #3, IMO.
If the Flames are trading for Eichel in the Tkachuk swap we all talk about, I would include Andersson here. I would prefer keeping Hanifin as I think his footspeed makes him a much more dependable defencemen.
Of course it won't be just Tkachuk and Andersson for Eichel - more moving pieces than that to be sure.
Then you move Monahan (and maybe a +) for a decent 2-way defencemen. I don't know who, but someone who is decent defensively, and will put up 45points in a good year.
Then you have to decide - offer Seattle something to retain Giordano, or sign someone like Barrie (yuck) to back-fill. The most I would offer Seattle is a 2nd and a 3rd to select Kylington (who isn't really an asset to the organization as he has had little development opportunity in the last 2 seasons, and it isn't likely to change with Sutter seeming to prefer Mackey and Stone).
If Seattle rejects that, take Giordano, and try to sign Barrie (yuck). I think Barrie is going to come way to expensive, but the one saving grace out of him is that he would probably be decent with Tanev, who is elite at defence. You then hope that pairing works. I don't want to guess at that contract though.
Flames have not drafted and/or developed enough defencemen lately. I think Treliving really dropped the ball on defence, and it has caught up to the team. I don't want to see a 1st being moved to Seattle to retain Giordano - that's stupid. A 2nd and a 3rd seems expensive, but what are you going to do when the best defencemen on the team is your 38 year old captain? There should have been a bit more foresight and planning on replacing the Giordano - Brodie - Hamilton.
Well, one good news for next season - nobody is going to be disappointed by the Flames. Lots of years there is talk about the Flames having the best defence in the league, only to disappoint. Well, the Flames for sure won't be talked about among the teams with the best D-corps, so there is nothing to be disappointed about.
This is what I think the greatest weakness on the Flames that people don't talk about.
The Flames can't afford to include trading a defencemen away for a forward. However, there is no way that ANY defencemen in the Flames' org is untouchable. It has to be rebuilt. You can keep a few pieces - Hanifin and Valimaki for sure - but you have to bring new pieces in. It is an awful D-Corps now, and it will be worse next season, unless at least 2 defencemen take BIG steps forward.
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