Rass might be ready along with one or two of our young D. If we're strickly looking at our D, I think it would make sense to move Stone to create room for a young player. Stone got caved in consistently and he really didn't bring much of anything. Moving Brodie would create a massive hole in our top 4 and I can't imagine BT is keen elevate any of our current D to the top 4.
- tincup

Hamonic & Kulak worked real well together the last 8-9 games last year. I have no problem them being the 2nd pairing.

That's just straight up false no matter how you spin it. When you're talking about the scoring race, people mean points. He was 21st in points. He was tied in goals with Provorov and Hedman so he didn't lead ALL defence in goals either.
- Hunkulese

Glad you corrected. He definitely dime a dozen to be tied with those guys in goal scoring.

I seriously wonder what Bennett might look like with regular 1st line time with Monahan and Gaudreau, but I do recall suggesting at various intervals last year that we consider a Bennett for Hoffman deal. That deal might have checked a lot of boxes for both teams. I still believe that Bennett's ceiling is ultimately Hoffman like production, but we might never see it while he's playing 3/4 line minutes with plugs. I think it's also fair to say Benny might never be a guy who carries a line. He might need that upper echelon supporting cast to top out his production.

That said, Brodie for Hoffman also makes sense to me, I think that's a mostly fair deal, though not sure if that's the direction Ott would go if they moved him. I also tend to think that Hoffman, whether you like his contract or the fact that he plays LW and not RW, might be about the best we can expect and I would be thrilled about it. Another 20-25 goal guy is needed on this team one way or another.

Hamonic & Kulak worked real well together the last 8-9 games last year. I have no problem them being the 2nd pairing.
- Kevin R

Yeah I think Kulak can step into the Top 4 at this point. He looked really good last year and he didn't look out of place when paired with Hamonic. If not him then I think there's a real shot Valimaki makes the lineup and could slide in there.

We have options on the backend and can afford to take risks. Not to mention we have Huska running it this year and he has a great track record with defenseman. Particularly young ones. We can certainly afford to take a risk given the personnel who can step in as well as the coaching staff we have now.

Seen this Gagne kid’s name around alot - what makes him so special? Just quickly googled stats and he looks average

Anyone else catch the girl in the first row with her boobs out while OV and the team did a lap around?

I think you and Bunkulese are both missing the joke. I’m pretty sure Razz was referencing an idiotic comment made by a BUF fan in Ek’s ROR for Hamilton trade blog.
- TandA4Flames

Hah yeah didn't check that thread out.

Anyone else catch the girl in the first row with her boobs out while OV and the team did a lap around?
- Yeah...Baby

https://m.imgur.com/a/p0eNQXm

https://m.imgur.com/a/p0eNQXm
- fry

Andre Burakovsky clapping at her! Lol

Yeah I dunno...the problem with both Hoffman and Skinner is they are both small. I would like someone bigger for the 2 top 6 RW spots.
- The-O-G

Brouwer.....

Hoffman - stay away. One dimensional player and a total A-hole.

Uhh.. he wasn't on the first PP unit until the latter half of the season like your "comparable" defencemen either Hunk...

While you try to bring up good points you don't talk unless they're biased and skewd to your favour.

Your a coward. Simply put.
- Flamin_Irishmin

How am I a coward? I give my opinion and back it up with logical arguments. There's nothing skewed or biased with what I said.

People need to get over the Hamiltion wasn't used on first PP unit thing. He wasn't used on the first unit because no one has success with shoot first defencemen on their PP in today's game. As bad as the Flames PP was all year, it was statistically worse after Hamilton moved to the top unit. And he was also on the PP for the whole season, got significant time, and only put up 12 points.

Did Hedman score as many goals as Hamilton because he got more PP time? No he scored 2 PP goals. Was Provorov on the Flyers top PP unit? No, he had significantly less PP time than Hamilton last year and also only scored 2 PP goals.

I'm nowhere near saying that Hamilton is a bad player. He's a great player with tons of talent, but he's not an elite best of the best defencemen that people on here want to label him as. He's not even the best defenceman on his team. If he can improve his decision making and ever decides to use his body to his advantage he can get there, but I haven't really seen him improve in those areas at all.

How am I a coward? I give my opinion and back it up with logical arguments. There's nothing skewed or biased with what I said.

People need to get over the Hamiltion wasn't used on first PP unit thing. He wasn't used on the first unit because no one has success with shoot first defencemen on their PP in today's game. As bad as the Flames PP was all year, it was statistically worse after Hamilton moved to the top unit. And he was also on the PP for the whole season, got significant time, and only put up 12 points.

Did Hedman score as many goals as Hamilton because he got more PP time? No he scored 2 PP goals. Was Provorov on the Flyers top PP unit? No, he had significantly less PP time than Hamilton last year and also only scored 2 PP goals.

I'm nowhere near saying that Hamilton is a bad player. He's a great player with tons of talent, but he's not an elite best of the best defencemen that people on here want to label him as. He's not even the best defenceman on his team. If he can improve his decision making and ever decides to use his body to his advantage he can get there, but I haven't really seen him improve in those areas at all.
- Hunkulese

Stop disagreeing with people, you coward. /s

I don’t agree with everything you say but you always back your arguments up with facts, which in turn, make me feel like an idiot.

So instead of spending assets on a scoring winger what about James Neal?

How am I a coward? I give my opinion and back it up with logical arguments. There's nothing skewed or biased with what I said.

People need to get over the Hamiltion wasn't used on first PP unit thing. He wasn't used on the first unit because no one has success with shoot first defencemen on their PP in today's game. As bad as the Flames PP was all year, it was statistically worse after Hamilton moved to the top unit. And he was also on the PP for the whole season, got significant time, and only put up 12 points.

Did Hedman score as many goals as Hamilton because he got more PP time? No he scored 2 PP goals. Was Provorov on the Flyers top PP unit? No, he had significantly less PP time than Hamilton last year and also only scored 2 PP goals.

I'm nowhere near saying that Hamilton is a bad player. He's a great player with tons of talent, but he's not an elite best of the best defencemen that people on here want to label him as. He's not even the best defenceman on his team. If he can improve his decision making and ever decides to use his body to his advantage he can get there, but I haven't really seen him improve in those areas at all.
- Hunkulese

After watching Washington's pp ,Carlson's shoot first success proves your statement is just your opinion. Hamilton only getting 12 points on the pp could be a result of the way he was used as much as his talent. If hes consistently used on his off wing where he can set up for one timers, I think we will see even more success out of him.
Just my opinion.

How am I a coward? I give my opinion and back it up with logical arguments. There's nothing skewed or biased with what I said.

People need to get over the Hamiltion wasn't used on first PP unit thing. He wasn't used on the first unit because no one has success with shoot first defencemen on their PP in today's game. As bad as the Flames PP was all year, it was statistically worse after Hamilton moved to the top unit. And he was also on the PP for the whole season, got significant time, and only put up 12 points.

Did Hedman score as many goals as Hamilton because he got more PP time? No he scored 2 PP goals. Was Provorov on the Flyers top PP unit? No, he had significantly less PP time than Hamilton last year and also only scored 2 PP goals.

I'm nowhere near saying that Hamilton is a bad player. He's a great player with tons of talent, but he's not an elite best of the best defencemen that people on here want to label him as. He's not even the best defenceman on his team. If he can improve his decision making and ever decides to use his body to his advantage he can get there, but I haven't really seen him improve in those areas at all.
- Hunkulese

Never thought you were a coward dude but I do think you are fckg insane. You can type out all this bunk all you want & that is your opinion, just dont get your hairs knotted when several people dont share your views. Hamillton has an elite shot so yeah I guess you're right, teams dont want that on their power plays.

How am I a coward? I give my opinion and back it up with logical arguments. There's nothing skewed or biased with what I said.

People need to get over the Hamiltion wasn't used on first PP unit thing. He wasn't used on the first unit because no one has success with shoot first defencemen on their PP in today's game. As bad as the Flames PP was all year, it was statistically worse after Hamilton moved to the top unit. And he was also on the PP for the whole season, got significant time, and only put up 12 points.

Did Hedman score as many goals as Hamilton because he got more PP time? No he scored 2 PP goals. Was Provorov on the Flyers top PP unit? No, he had significantly less PP time than Hamilton last year and also only scored 2 PP goals.

I'm nowhere near saying that Hamilton is a bad player. He's a great player with tons of talent, but he's not an elite best of the best defencemen that people on here want to label him as. He's not even the best defenceman on his team. If he can improve his decision making and ever decides to use his body to his advantage he can get there, but I haven't really seen him improve in those areas at all.
- Hunkulese

Um. What?

Top powerplays in the league:

Pitts - Letang is 6th in the league in shots by defencemen
Tor - I'll give you this one, but they also don't have a true offensive dman
TBay - Hedman, 9th ranked in shots
Bos - Krug 20th ranked in shots
Win - Buff 23rd in shots
NYI - Pulock 26th in shots, but played in only 68 games
Wash - Carlson 5th in shots

I stopped there, but Coloardo and Vancouver also have Dmen playing their powerplay on a regular basis who are shot heavy defensemen in Johnson and Edler.

As for Hedman and Provorov, sure, 2 goals. The league leaders in PP goals for D had 7. Provorov is a bit of a chery pick, but forgot Gostisbehere who had 7. Hamilton had 6 PP goals and was 2nd in the league among D.

Your facts are slanted my friend.