Quote:
Originally Posted by dissentowner
This post is a total pipe dream of someone who doesn't get the Flames are not rebuilding anytime in the near future no matter how many times they hear it. Also, Hanifin is a much better D man than Klingberg. Klingberg is like an offensive forward on D, sure he QB's a PP better than Hanifin but that's it. As a matter of fact Klingberg might be the worst defenceman in his own zone in the entire league.
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It doesn’t matter if they say they are or are not rebuilding, and it doesn’t matter if Hanifin is better than Klingberg.
The point is, a blown ACL, a separated shoulder, a concussion that keeps him out for three months, and all of a sudden Noah Hanifin goes from a 7x$7M or more player to maybe a 5x$6M, or whatever.
Likely? Perhaps not.
Possible? Certainly.
Beside the point? Absolutely - I don’t care about these guys getting set up for life financially - I care if my hockey team can transform a couple pending UFAs with zero trade restrictions into some high value teenagers that can help my team for the next decade.
Hanifin is quality. He doesn’t have that next level offense to his game. And he’s not some defensive wizard either. He’s a good player.
He’s not a superstar, and the Flames paying him more than Weegar when he’s nowhere near as good doesn’t help them in the short or long term.
He’s durable, he’s reasonably reliable, and he was drafted 5th overall. Somehow, his potential is still his biggest selling point.
Now, if both Hanifin and Lindholm are signed before the draft, great - it’s not what I’d do, but it’s not my money.
If they aren’t signed before the crowd has a chance to boo Gary in two weeks time, they can’t be on the roster opening night, or it’s just Gaudreau all over again.