I don't think Islander fans will like it.

Is this a cap crunch move for the Isles?

Barzal is better than Monahan and while the Flames love Valimaki, he hasn't played in 15 months, while Toews is established as an NHLer at this point.

yeah true, i just remember Valimaki was this hyped up prospect along with Brannstrom and Hughes. What happened to him

He blew his knee out in the summer of 2019 training. Missed the whole season, and is just now back to being ready to play (although he won't play in these playoffs for the Flames, they have a crap ton of D and will have to sit one of their deadline acquisitions because everybody is healthy now after the long lay off)

can he play in the playoffs tho or nah? like is he not ready yet?

He probably can but if he doesn't he becomes expansion exempt. Calgary invested in defense at the TDL and bringing in a guy whose been out for a year regardless of his potential is bad decision

So,
Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Andersson
Gustafsson-Hamonic
Forbort, Stone, Kylington

Or something else

That's exactly how I would run it

You nailed it.

Treliving said they weren't going to push Valimaki back in because it would unfair to throw him into a pressure packed playoff environment after missing 15 months, which makes sense, but I imagine the expansion draft has something to do with it as well.

I absoultely love Sean Monahan, one of my favorites in the entire NHL. I still say no to this as an NYI fan.

Barzal isn't much better than Monahan, but plays a significantly different style that can't be replicated and I'd rather have Barzal than Monahan for this team if we had to choose between one or the other. Monahan is better than Nelson, but both play similar styles and I'd rather have Nelson since he's who we already have.

So while the value seems pretty fair, I'd rather not do this.

Do u think they re-sign Brodie? I dont think Hamonic will be re-signed personally but theyd likely be missing a top 4D. Giordano, Hanifin and Andersson. They likely need to sign Brodie or another Dman and roll with 2 of Kylington, Valimaki, Yelesin, Stone on the bottom pairing

I think Brodie will test the market. Maybe he circles back if nothing jumps out at him and the Flames haven't done something else on D already. Remember, he was out the door and on to TO a year ago, until Kadri squashed it. Not sure if there is bitterness there or not, but it can't feel great.

Hamonic has not been great as a Flame. Great guy but I really hope they move on, he likely won't be worth his contract.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of trade protection or no movement clause gets handed out by the Flames should they sign another top 4 D man. They already have the protection slots full on D so that could complicate things if they won't assure the player they sign that they will protected from expansion. Might be a lot of that going on around the league though.

i hate this.

if Gio-Andersson works,
Valimaki-Stone/Kylington/yelesin as a bottom pairing.
Then youre left with Hanifin and signing someone else. If Hanifin can be a shutdown D, can you afford to sign a pure offensive dman to pair him with ? Vatanen or barrie?