What is Dillon Dube?

[TheSquatch]

Originally Posted by Crown Royal

What about Hanifin? It's really easy to forget he is even younger than Ras

I thought Hanifin looked awful for a lot of last year and some big parts of this year. And recently, he looks like what he's supposed to be, a good skating puck-playing defenseman.

But I'm still not sold - the first Dallas goal, Hanifin has the puck behind the goal line, has possession and should just skate it or look for an outlet, instead he hacks it up the boards for an immediate turnover. It was a play that I think a more experienced dman would handle better, and I'm happy to let the guy play and learn. I thought what we were seeing before was a guy who didn't know his role, wasn't comfortable with the system, and was making bad positional choices far too often and getting blown by on fast turnover type situations.

So I think Hanifin has a role here, hopefully it's a big solid one for a long time. But I don't see him (yet) as having anywhere near the game influence or the personality/leadership/panache of a Rasmus Andersson, for example.

[BurningYears]

A body double for or by Jason Mantzoukas

[Enoch Root]

Hanifin - Andersson has the potential to become a top pairing, and we are watching them blossom into a really good 2nd pairing in real time. Which, for a couple of 23 year olds who are both locked up long term, is pretty fricking awesome.

But even better is the fact that they get to watch and learn from a really good top pair of vets and a great leader in Giordano. It would be ideal if we had Brodie for another year (at a minimum), and by the end of next season, these two will have likely taken over the team (or at least be ready to)

[BurningSteel]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

A shorter, bearded and much better Joe Colborne?

Quick!! Trade him for McKinnon.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Meanings:

Dillon - a lion

Dubé - a zebra

Maybe his parents conceived while on a safari

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

Can only protect 7 forwards in the expansion draft

So worse case we loose Bennet at expansion draft ?

We’re going to loose someone.....

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah, Dube and Mangi having a coming out party is going to make the expansion draft hard to navigate, especially if the Flames add to the roster this off season.

1. Monahan
2. Gaudreau
3. Lindholm
4. Tkachuk
5. Backlund
6. Mangiapane
7. Dube
8. Bennett

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

So worse case we loose Bennet at expansion draft ?

We’re going to loose someone.....

Well I'm glad that we'll just be giving someone slack. Losing someone would be worse.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Yeah, Dube and Mangi having a coming out party is going to make the expansion draft hard to navigate, especially if the Flames add to the roster this off season.

1. Monahan
2. Gaudreau
3. Lindholm
4. Tkachuk
5. Backlund
6. Mangiapane
7. Dube
8. Bennett

So is the emergence of Andersson and Hanifin to be honest.

As of right now, any two of Backlund, Lucic, Mangiapane, Dube, and Bennett will be exposed, but likely so will Kylington and whoever we sign as the 4th defenceman (Brodie? Gus? Someone else?) or Gio.

And who knows what "worst case" looks like in a year. Maybe Bennett/Dube/Mangiapane become untouchable and Backlund is exposed. Or maybe Gaudreau is traded for an expansion-exempt player and we don't sign Hall.

Lots of moving parts, but unless they choose Kylington or the unsigned D, we're going to be losing a player that's been playing well in these playoffs.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

So worse case we loose Bennet at expansion draft ?

We’re going to loose someone.....

This is a joke, right?

[chedder]

Though Backlund is playing well in these playoffs so far, you have to expose him to the expansion draft. As has been said, Dube can be his replacement. And Dare to dream, Bennett could also be.

[Roof-Daddy]

Dube is not even a center, how can he be a replacement for Backlund?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Dube is not even a center, how can he be a replacement for Backlund?

I think because he played center in junior people slot him as a center. He was a LW at the WJC though and I'm not sure how much center he played in the AHL.

It's possible I guess, but he's probably a few years away from being an effective center if he moves back to that position.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think because he played center in junior people slot him as a center. He was a LW at the WJC though and I'm not sure how much center he played in the AHL.

It's possible I guess, but he's probably a few years away from being an effective center if he moves back to that position.

Yeah, I could be wrong but I don't think he's played much C anywhere since he left junior.

I think Quine/Graovac were his C's in Stockton.

[BigErnSalute_16]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I see him as similar to Kasperi Kapanen but with better hands.

Better hands, more leadership, more defensive awareness and more tenacity

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Yeah, Dube and Mangi having a coming out party is going to make the expansion draft hard to navigate, especially if the Flames add to the roster this off season.

1. Monahan
2. Gaudreau
3. Lindholm
4. Tkachuk
5. Backlund
6. Mangiapane
7. Dube
8. Bennett

Backlund, Bennett as well, won't be protected.

Bennett is what he is, let's not use Oilers covered glasses on how we view our early first round picks. Mangiapane and Dube are already both better.

Bennett had 12 points this season...Mangiapane would have easily past Bennett's rookie season this year in a full year. Dube is a star, a rock star even.

I think Giordano gets chosen and isn't protected without a deal. The expansion draft will be interesting as the Flames will need to make some tough decisions unlike when Vegas came in.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

So is the emergence of Andersson and Hanifin to be honest.

As of right now, any two of Backlund, Lucic, Mangiapane, Dube, and Bennett will be exposed, but likely so will Kylington and whoever we sign as the 4th defenceman (Brodie? Gus? Someone else?) or Gio.

And who knows what "worst case" looks like in a year. Maybe Bennett/Dube/Mangiapane become untouchable and Backlund is exposed. Or maybe Gaudreau is traded for an expansion-exempt player and we don't sign Hall.

Lots of moving parts, but unless they choose Kylington or the unsigned D, we're going to be losing a player that's been playing well in these playoffs.

If we have 13 good players and lose 1, we're still better off than in we only have 10 good players and can protect them all

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Backlund, Bennett as well, won't be protected.

Backlund and Bennett won't be protected? Then who will be? They gotta protect seven.

As for who'll get selected, I'm beginning to wonder if it'll be Derek Ryan, who's from Spokane and is a pending UFA when the expansion draft is slated to happen.

[troutman]

[Enoch Root]

Yeah, the Flames are going to have to expose several good players. This is a good problem to have. And Seattle can only take one of them.

Still a year away, and lots of moving parts, including possible trades and signings. But the possibility of exposing Backlund has gone from almost inconceivable a year ago, to very possible at this point. And that is not an indictment of him, just a result of the fact that Duba, Bennett and Mangiapane continue to develop, and Backlund will be 32 with a $5.35M cap hit.

Also, convincing Seattle to take Ryan (with a sweetener) would be the dream.