Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanCharles
He’s saying Valimaki should be the #5 if his play had dictated it. Up to this point it hasn’t but he/we are hoping it eventually gets there because the Valimaki’s, Kylington’s, Hanifin’s and Andersson’s of this team are where the growth will come and they are the future.
We already know what veterans like Tanev et al. are.
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Since clearly timbit and enoch are reading my post and misreading it as a rant about Valimaki not being in and Gudranson being trash, I feel compelled to clarify:
1) Thus far this season, I would rank our bottom four defensemen as
5) Gudbranson
6) Valimaki
7) Stone
8) Zadorov
However, I believe the Flames need to exercise flexibility and competition.
First of all, Zadorov-Gudbranson is not a pair capable of moving the puck. I don't care about it tonight, but it won't work in meaningful games against great teams. They'll pick it apart.
Second, Valimaki has had some poor plays so far this year. He needs to clean it up. I also thought he was not very good last year. However the very basic fact that he's the only player of the four above who can move the puck is why it's important for the team that he takes huge, immediate strides.
Third, Gudbranson hasn't "earned himself a scratch". I'd say Valimaki has had a game or two where it felt like he did. But that's what's crazy. That Gudbranson has outplayed Valimaki. That's on Valimaki to figure it out.
To play at the level he is capable of - consistently.
Fourth, Zadorov playing better is important. It gives Sutter the option of trying Kinnvall in a scenario where we trade away Valimaki for Eichel. Zadorov needs to play at a #5 level. So far he has been the worst defenseman in every game he has participated in. But we've all seen what he's capable of, back when Zadorov-Cole shut down the Purple Gatorade line. I believe Sutter is trying to work Zadorov back to that level, but trusts Gudbranson more than Valimaki right now.
Overall, it's November and Sutter's handling of the D core is nothing short of praiseworthy so far.
Hope that helped clarify.