Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 
Forums :: Blog World :: Todd Cordell: On Juuso Valimaki's goal of breaking camp with the Calgary Flames
Author Message
rmull905
Calgary Flames
Joined: 02.27.2007

Jul 11 @ 9:14 AM ET
Do they really need insurance when they have Välimäki, Andersson, and Kylington ready to go?

I'm pretty sure they gave him the one-way contract to be the 7th guy. Don't have to worry about him not getting enough playing time, is a good guy to have around the team, and can fill in for a game or two if you don't have time to call someone up. Paying him ten times what an AHL player should be making doesn't make a ton of sense. Do you really think anyone else was going to give him a one-way contract?

- Hunkulese


I think the bottom line for me is that I don't really care if he's the 7th dman or is the captain in Stockton. Flames have historically paid gets to play in the A on one way deals because they are guys where there is 0 risk of them being claimed on waivers , 0 lost if they are claimed on waivers and if they 2-5 games in the NHL, it's to either send a message to our guys or to smack some other guys in the face
rmull905
Calgary Flames
Joined: 02.27.2007

Jul 11 @ 9:23 AM ET
Do they really need insurance when they have Välimäki, Andersson, and Kylington ready to go?

I'm pretty sure they gave him the one-way contract to be the 7th guy. Don't have to worry about him not getting enough playing time, is a good guy to have around the team, and can fill in for a game or two if you don't have time to call someone up. Paying him ten times what an AHL player should be making doesn't make a ton of sense. Do you really think anyone else was going to give him a one-way contract?

- Hunkulese


And yeah, I think you need that insurance to some degree, if Juuso and Rasmus make the roster, for me, it's because Stone is out the door and Kulak becomes your 7. If they are in the minors, I think Prout becomes your guaranteed 7 as you don't want a rookie in the pressbox, you need them developing their game in the A
Habsody
Montreal Canadiens
Location: 3-Rivières, QC
Joined: 12.16.2007

Jul 11 @ 10:36 AM ET
For Valimaki to make it he will need to be exceptional. He is penciled in as Giordano's replacement as the #1 in a few years and it is hard to see how he gets enough ice time on the third pair.

Unless they trade Stone the starting lineup is
Gio Brodie
Hanifin Hamonic
Kulak Anderson
Stone

- Chucky


Always thought TJ Brodie was a leftie, hence why i was wondering why the Flames did go get Hanifin and let go a right in Hamilton. But now that does make sense then...we need lefties so bad with the Habs
Ven0m
Calgary Flames
Location: Calgary, AB
Joined: 06.15.2017

Jul 11 @ 11:11 AM ET
Always thought TJ Brodie was a leftie, hence why i was wondering why the Flames did go get Hanifin and let go a right in Hamilton. But now that does make sense then...we need lefties so bad with the Habs
- Habsody


Brodie is a leftie! He just played better on the right side with Gio than he has the past couple seasons playing on the left side.
DuranDuran
Calgary Flames
Location: Quito
Joined: 09.29.2015

Jul 11 @ 12:54 PM ET
And yeah, I think you need that insurance to some degree, if Juuso and Rasmus make the roster, for me, it's because Stone is out the door and Kulak becomes your 7. If they are in the minors, I think Prout becomes your guaranteed 7 as you don't want a rookie in the pressbox, you need them developing their game in the A
- rmull905


To toss 2 rookies out to the wolves is not a good idea in my books.

I think Stone as a mentor is a good idea. Teach the kids the tricks of the trade.
geta02it
Calgary Flames
Location: AB
Joined: 11.10.2007

Jul 11 @ 2:07 PM ET
To toss 2 rookies out to the wolves is not a good idea in my books.

I think Stone as a mentor is a good idea. Teach the kids the tricks of the trade.

- DuranDuran

If you're Stone, and you still believe you can contribute as a regular NHL'r, why in gods green earth would he accept that role?
To me your "mentors" are those guys that lead be example game after game. I don't mind Stone but I'd rather he be traded than take up a roster spot should someone outshine him at camp. Same for Kulak...
Hunkulese
Calgary Flames
Location: QC
Joined: 09.30.2006

Jul 11 @ 2:20 PM ET
If you're Stone, and you still believe you can contribute as a regular NHL'r, why in gods green earth would he accept that role?
To me your "mentors" are those guys that lead be example game after game. I don't mind Stone but I'd rather he be traded than take up a roster spot should someone outshine him at camp. Same for Kulak...

- geta02it


Stone was fine with it when he signed his contract. He knew he'd be used a bottom pairing guy with Andersson, Valimaki, Kylington, and Fox right there fighting for a job.

He wants to live in Calgary.
rmull905
Calgary Flames
Joined: 02.27.2007

Jul 11 @ 2:46 PM ET
Stone was fine with it when he signed his contract. He knew he'd be used a bottom pairing guy with Andersson, Valimaki, Kylington, and Fox right there fighting for a job.

He wants to live in Calgary.

- Hunkulese


True. He was quoted as saying he wanted to be close to family.
rmull905
Calgary Flames
Joined: 02.27.2007

Jul 11 @ 2:49 PM ET
To toss 2 rookies out to the wolves is not a good idea in my books.

I think Stone as a mentor is a good idea. Teach the kids the tricks of the trade.

- DuranDuran



Agreed, though I suspect Andersson might be in a top 4 spot on a few teams, and if you really wanted to, you could pair D as follows:

Gio-Brodie
Hanifin - Andersson
Valimaki - Hamonic

Learn from guys that have been around the league for a few years anyways, you have 3 pairings you can conceivably through out in most any situations, and if it doesn't work, Kulak draws in and you realign the pairings.
LittleBroDougie
Calgary Flames
Joined: 03.03.2017

Jul 11 @ 5:41 PM ET
Agreed, though I suspect Andersson might be in a top 4 spot on a few teams, and if you really wanted to, you could pair D as follows:

Gio-Brodie
Hanifin - Andersson
Valimaki - Hamonic

Learn from guys that have been around the league for a few years anyways, you have 3 pairings you can conceivably through out in most any situations, and if it doesn't work, Kulak draws in and you realign the pairings.

- rmull905


I think there is almost no chance they have a relatively rookie defensive pairing playing such high minutes. I feel like they don't want a rookie pairing at all to be honest! Hence why I believe Stone will stick around for the year.
Ol_Boy_Wop
Calgary Flames
Joined: 08.24.2011

Jul 11 @ 6:22 PM ET
I think there is almost no chance they have a relatively rookie defensive pairing playing such high minutes. I feel like they don't want a rookie pairing at all to be honest! Hence why I believe Stone will stick around for the year.
- LittleBroDougie

Hanifin’s played 200+ games. He’s young but hardly a rookie.
LittleBroDougie
Calgary Flames
Joined: 03.03.2017

Jul 11 @ 6:46 PM ET
Hanifin’s played 200+ games. He’s young but hardly a rookie.
- Ol_Boy_Wop


Yeah that's why I meant relatively - he's only 21 years old which means I doubt they let him anchor a D-line with an equally young defenceman.
Ol_Boy_Wop
Calgary Flames
Joined: 08.24.2011

Jul 11 @ 7:34 PM ET
Yeah that's why I meant relatively - he's only 21 years old which means I doubt they let him anchor a D-line with an equally young defenceman.
- LittleBroDougie

I agree with you. It’ll be hard to keep Valimaki away from the big club if he impresses in camp and pre season, though.
Hunkulese
Calgary Flames
Location: QC
Joined: 09.30.2006

Jul 11 @ 8:35 PM ET
If Valimaki makes the team, he'll be a Calder finalist. There's really no reason he shouldn't except for future financial considerations.

They should put Valimaki or Hanifin with Gio, the other one with Brodie, and Hamonic with Andersson.
InSutterWeTrust
Calgary Flames
Location: AB
Joined: 08.09.2010

Jul 12 @ 12:14 AM ET
If Valimaki makes the team, he'll be a Calder finalist. There's really no reason he shouldn't except for future financial considerations.

They should put Valimaki or Hanifin with Gio, the other one with Brodie, and Hamonic with Andersson.

- Hunkulese


Are you really suggesting 3 same handed D-pairings?

It's one thing to suggest our top pairing should be 2 lefties, which I actually support due to Brodie playing his entire junior, minor pro, and most of his NHL career on the right side, but why would the Flames set their entire defence pairings this way?

BroDano is likely a #1 pairing lock.
I think Hanifin is probably penciled in for 2LD
The rest are going to have to be determined in training camp. I'm not convinced that Hamonic is a lock for 2RD, though I would be fine with him there, it just may depend on the other 3 that make the team, and how that looks.
If Valimaki makes this team, he might be better served playing 3LD paired with Hamonic, and Stone or Andersson play 2RD with Hanifin.

Regardless who makes this team, I just hope it's because they made the team, period.
Hunkulese
Calgary Flames
Location: QC
Joined: 09.30.2006

Jul 12 @ 11:05 AM ET
Are you really suggesting 3 same handed D-pairings?

It's one thing to suggest our top pairing should be 2 lefties, which I actually support due to Brodie playing his entire junior, minor pro, and most of his NHL career on the right side, but why would the Flames set their entire defence pairings this way?


- InSutterWeTrust


It's not ideal, but I think it's more important to get your better players more ice time than it is to play them on their natural side. The Flames have a plethora of LHD, so some of them are going to have to get comfortable playing on the right. I think there's a clear gap between the top 4 and Hamonic and then an even bigger gap to Andersson. If it's really important to Peters that they have some RHD LHD pairings, switch Brodie and Hamonic. Do really think Hanafin or Valimaki should be on the third pairing for the next four years just because they shoot left?

Young offensive defencemen have had a lot of success in their rookie years. Gostisbehere, Werenski, Sergachev, and Provorov have all been able to step in and contribute right away. I think Valimaki could be better than all of them. Provorov is also a LHD playing on the right side. It hasn't really slowed him down.
geta02it
Calgary Flames
Location: AB
Joined: 11.10.2007

Jul 12 @ 11:57 AM ET
It's not ideal, but I think it's more important to get your better players more ice time than it is to play them on their natural side. The Flames have a plethora of LHD, so some of them are going to have to get comfortable playing on the right. I think there's a clear gap between the top 4 and Hamonic and then an even bigger gap to Andersson. If it's really important to Peters that they have some RHD LHD pairings, switch Brodie and Hamonic. Do really think Hanafin or Valimaki should be on the third pairing for the next four years just because they shoot left?

Young offensive defencemen have had a lot of success in their rookie years. Gostisbehere, Werenski, Sergachev, and Provorov have all been able to step in and contribute right away. I think Valimaki could be better than all of them. Provorov is also a LHD playing on the right side. It hasn't really slowed him down.

- Hunkulese


Hunk...I actually agree with you on this...
Redmile247
Calgary Flames
Joined: 03.17.2013

Jul 12 @ 12:25 PM ET
It's not ideal, but I think it's more important to get your better players more ice time than it is to play them on their natural side. The Flames have a plethora of LHD, so some of them are going to have to get comfortable playing on the right. I think there's a clear gap between the top 4 and Hamonic and then an even bigger gap to Andersson. If it's really important to Peters that they have some RHD LHD pairings, switch Brodie and Hamonic. Do really think Hanafin or Valimaki should be on the third pairing for the next four years just because they shoot left?

Young offensive defencemen have had a lot of success in their rookie years. Gostisbehere, Werenski, Sergachev, and Provorov have all been able to step in and contribute right away. I think Valimaki could be better than all of them. Provorov is also a LHD playing on the right side. It hasn't really slowed him down.

- Hunkulese


IMO gio and Brodie will both be gone in 2-3 years
rmull905
Calgary Flames
Joined: 02.27.2007

Jul 12 @ 12:41 PM ET
It's not ideal, but I think it's more important to get your better players more ice time than it is to play them on their natural side. The Flames have a plethora of LHD, so some of them are going to have to get comfortable playing on the right. I think there's a clear gap between the top 4 and Hamonic and then an even bigger gap to Andersson. If it's really important to Peters that they have some RHD LHD pairings, switch Brodie and Hamonic. Do really think Hanafin or Valimaki should be on the third pairing for the next four years just because they shoot left?

Young offensive defencemen have had a lot of success in their rookie years. Gostisbehere, Werenski, Sergachev, and Provorov have all been able to step in and contribute right away. I think Valimaki could be better than all of them. Provorov is also a LHD playing on the right side. It hasn't really slowed him down.

- Hunkulese


It's not crazy, that said, I actually feel like the combos I put out gives you a shutdown pair in Gio/Brods, and gives Juuso a solid pairing with Hammer plus the LH/RH combo. Same with Hanifin and Andersson.

Not opposed to what you've put out either, I would say that the farther down the lineup an offensive defenseman is, potentially the better, as you want those guys playing minutes against 3/4 lines where possible
LittleBroDougie
Calgary Flames
Joined: 03.03.2017

Jul 12 @ 3:16 PM ET
I agree with you. It’ll be hard to keep Valimaki away from the big club if he impresses in camp and pre season, though.
- Ol_Boy_Wop


True. I honestly have no idea who's gonna make it at this point. Gio, Brodie, Hanifin, and Hamonic are locks while the 3 remaining spots are the best players out of Stone, Kulak, Valimaki, and Andersson. I can just see them giving Kulak the shaft so they can keep an experienced RHD in Stone if Valimaki and Andersson are as good as we hope they are.

The problem then becomes keeping a 3.5M player in the press box lowering his trade value versus potentially stunting growth in Vali/RA by having them sit out.
Page: Previous  1, 2