Charlotte is going to be utterly loaded again this season, especially on defense. Bean, Priskie, Forsling, Claesson, McKeown, Sellgren, Lintuniemi, Wood is almost certainly better than Ottawa's NHL defense, even with a waiver claim or two. I personally also see McKeown winning a job in camp, particularly with TVR likely on LTIR to start the season.
There's no room for Claesson even if CAR carries 8 dmen on its 23-man roster. It's a good signing in a vacuum, but on CAR, it's a waste of a contract spot. Unless he gets plucked off waivers.
One of the under-the-radar top UFAs left (I had him at #12) and arguably the best UFA D-Man (under 30) still available. Has shown better in his 3+ seasons than Ben Hutton or Joe Morrow. His career Corsi is a respectable 48.9% and his relative Corsi last season (with the Rags) was +3.0. He’s played on pretty awful teams but put up decent peripherals so it’ll be interesting to see him in a depth role in Carolina.
He has a surprising amount of pro experience (517 games split between the NHL (150), SHL (82) and AHL (285)). As such, if he doesn’t make the Canes roster he’ll will take up one of the 6 spots for veteran skaters (basically those with >260 pro GP) available in Charlotte. Could be an alternate captain down there if they go that route.
Other than not being signed sooner, the only surprising thing is that he’s signed by the team that needs the least help with respect to defensive depth. I can’t imagine there not being at least ONE trade of Canes D-Men to flesh out their forward lines and forward prospect depth (which is shallower relative to their blue line). All the talk about Faulk may finally lead to something with this and the Gardiner signing. Could a lefty, maybe Jake Bean (who could bring back a valuable piece) also be on his way out? We shall see.
Okay, Don, Tom,, guys.... I think we're good now for D Men now.....
Slavin Gardiner Hamilton Pesce Faulk TvR Fleury Bean Priskie McKeown Luteniemi Wood Sellgren Claesson .... can we stop now? This is a great signing, but Jesus Christ.....
Okay, Don, Tom,, guys.... I think we're good now for D Men now.....
Slavin Gardiner Hamilton Pesce Faulk TvR Fleury Bean Priskie McKeown Luteniemi Wood Sellgren Claesson .... can we stop now? This is a great signing, but Jesus Christ.....
Average Fan: The last thing that the Canes need is moar defense.
Canes FO: Wut did you just say??! (Trades for Julius Honka)
League minimum bottom pairing defender, so a good signing, but just curious as to how many defenders Carolina needs to have... I guess they are just signing all of them because Dundon said he's not drafting any in the 1st round.
League minimum bottom pairing defender, so a good signing, but just curious as to how many defenders Carolina needs to have... I guess they are just signing all of them because Dundon said he's not drafting any in the 1st round.