Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Actually, it's:
Mackey 26
Andersson 25
Hanifin 25
Kylington 25
Valimaki 24
The idea that the team isn't giving young guys the chance is pretty silly.
Also, anyone who watched Heat games last year knows that Valimaki isn't close. He was no where near their best defenseman last year. Penciling him into the lineup is ridiculous, and isn't happening (unless he comes to camp having taken a HUGE step forward)
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Feels like I’ve been beating this drum for the past couple weeks on CP with all the talk of trading a defenseman for a forward, but here we go again.
Everybody watched the playoffs right? Does everybody remember what happened when Tanev got taken out of the line up and Zadorov/Kylington had to play through minor injuries?
Everybody had to step up and take on more responsibility, more minutes, and tougher matchups. What was the outcome? Our defense was exposed- it just wasn’t good enough.
Treliving then went out and added a massive piece on the backend. Weegar eases that burden on everybody. When we run into injuries this season (and we will) it will be much easier to handle.
Trading away one of Weegar, Hanifin, Tanev, or Andersson leave us in the same predicament we were last year. I see people arguing “it’s a position of strength” and I agree it is. Let’s leave it that way and use it as a strategic advantage over other teams.
I do agree that one more piece up front would be helpful, but that is much easier to acquire either via free agency (Rodrigues, Kessel, Milano) or via trade during the season or at the deadline.
It’s near impossible to go out and find a defenseman at this time of year that can play on your top pairing.
Depth is so important when it comes to the playoffs. I know the Flames have 10 guys on one way contracts, but Gilbert, Meloche, Valimaki, Mackey, and Stone is depth that can fill in on the bottom pairing, nothing more. Penciling any of these guys into full time roles will not end well for the Flames.
I think some people tend to forget just how young Hanifin, Andersson, and Kylington are too. They are only getting better. You need to keep these guys.