I was reading the Gubranson signing thread over at HF, and it had mixed-results. Ottawa and Vancouver fans both hated him there and thought he was useless. The fans from American teams seemed to almost universally like him. Judging by that, perhaps the issue isn't with Gudbranson but the teams themselves - Vancouver and Ottawa were regularly playing him in their top 4, while he was getting reduced minutes and responsibility on the American squads.
Perhaps he will only really see the bottom pairing here and be reliable? Reliable defensively, clearing the net, physical with the occasional fight to keep the opposing teams honest - then he easily earns his contract. That's the key though - will he play reliable minutes on the bottom pair? We will soon find out I guess.
At worst, this is going to just be about 1 million dollars' worth of waste if it doesn't turn out (which is not nothing - the accumulated cap savings at the end of the season is important after all, as is having the flexibility to make a deal when a desperate team comes calling), but that's what it will be as a worst-case scenario. I can't imagine Sutter having much patience with Gudbranson if he is making costly turnover and turnover or being walked (which has more to do with his IQ than his skating - he does move around quite well for a big man). Sutter likes and seemed to trust Stone - a couple bad moves, and Gudbranson starts to sit. Sutter seemed to like Mackey too last season. Kylington has no hope in this case it seems, so I look at him as '3 injuries to our defence safety'.
I hate it less today. I still don't love it, even though I am glad that it is fitting into the identity of the Flames, but the downside is lessened for me. Sutter will either get him to play reliably, or Sutter will get Stone to take his minutes. From what I gather, he has been playing reliable minutes with the right partner, especially on the bottom pairing.
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