If I could choose I am on the Kessel train I think we need more scoring and help on the second power play. I wouldn’t be disappointed in Rodrigues because I think he would fit as well but I believe Kessel fills a need more. Milano is the youngest but this team needs a right shot.
Rodrigues played close to 1100 even strength minutes last year. 689 where Crosby and Malkin were not on the ice. His number when away from the 2 were off the charts good.
He also has high end speed and plays a Sutter style game. If the contract is right, sign him now.
50.77% - GF% but he had an on ice save percent of .8961
56.11% - xGF%
58.96% - HDCF%
330 mins with Crosby only and the numbers were similar but he did not play well with just Malkin and only got 80 mins with just Malkin.
There is nothing that suggests Rodrigues got carried by Sid other than the goals for went up slightly per 60 mins
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Valimaki was playing 3rd pairing minutes in the AHL last season.
That defense is significantly worse and one injury away from desperation. Plus, it’s really not Sutter and Treliving’s MO to gift a roster spot to a prospect.
I really like Nylander too, but Hanifin is just finally putting it all together. He put up elite metrics last season for the first time. At 25 years old I think it would be really foolish to trade him. Especially foolish if it’s to gift Valimaki a spot.
What were his metrics in the playoffs? He was god awful against the Oilers. Maybe its not Valamaki, its another young dman or one you've signed but the overkill on D has been a staple of the Flames mentality for the last 15 years and has gotten us nowhere. You can't go into the season with our RW depth and expect to compete against the big boys.
Dropping who to our 3rd pairing D? Kylington? You want to spend 6 million on our 3rd pairing D who plays 15 minutes a game when our RW depth might be some of the worst in the league?
As I said, if you can move Lucic and trade Hanifin for a legit top 6 forward, you have the cap space to add a depth dman if the guys you already have don't work, but you need to improve the right side of the forward group. The Flames are still very strong on D whether you move 1 of them or not.
I'm more and more in favour of Kessel too. He may not be a prototypical Sutter player, but he is a guy who's all about the team and that's a core part of what Sutter expects. Also, nobody needs to be traded to bring him in and it would be the cherry on top of a surreal and entertaining off-season.
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I would be happy with either Kessel or Rodrigues. The more I read about Rodrigues (good play driver and puck carrier) the more I like him and think he fits the makeup of the team better, I'm just worried that he is coming off a career year at 29 and will ask for more money or term than I would like. I'm not sure what Sutter would think of Kessel - maybe he would like him because he's a winner, but I'm not sure how receptive Kessel would be to someone like Sutter pushing him.
What were his metrics in the playoffs? He was god awful against the Oilers.
Everyone was godawful against the Oilers. Hanifin drew McDrai more often than the other defencemen did, so of course his numbers look worse.
But hey, sure, fire him into the sun if it makes you feel better. Because the only way to make your defence better is by getting rid of good players, right?
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What were his metrics in the playoffs? He was god awful against the Oilers.
Jacob Markstrom literally had a .801 SV% with Hanifin on the ice during that series. That type of goaltending would make any player in the league look terrible.
Five on five Hanifin actually had a decent series (analytically) as he had a positive CF%, SF%, SCF%, and HDCF%.
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Hanifin is also only 25. He still has lots of room to grow on his defensive side. He seems to be getting better each season too. This is not the time to move him for anything less than a legit top line RW of similar age.
What a top 9 so likely far too much of a fleece for the Flames
The value difference is it would make the Flames a much worse team. I will be glad the day Hall retires so we never have to hear posters pining for him in Calgary ever again.
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