Hanley 100% has to go regardless of what happens to Andersson... what he did was admirable but investing that kind of ice time in a 34 year old waiver wire level guy and having kids stuck behind him, no matter how nice the story was this year is incredibly wasteful from a developmental perspective, or even from a long term outlook for the flames, he definitely won't be here when the team is good again. And he did great this year and am happy for him, but he put up 9pts with that kind of ice time so it's not like you're moving out a core piece.
I'd like to see them send out a mid round pick or two and add a couple guys who are buried somewhere else like they did with Miromanov. Call it the Kiprusoff model. That Miromanov move didn't pay off but it was the right play. Eventually you will find a guy who steps up. Am sure the Flames scouting staff have better eyes than me, but just to throw out some names, target someone like Fensore from the Canes or Matt Kessel from the Blues that moves the puck a bit better than Hanley and is young enought that they could become either a core piece or a valuable asset.
Or better yet give someone like Poirier or Brzustewicz a long look like a team in our position should be doing.
For me I have no problems with the Flames trying 3 rookies on the backend, next year is the year to do it... in front of a great goalie with an incredible draft class. If they sink you win with a franchise cornerstone and if they swim you start to have a d corps to build around.
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