Quoting: KingofRnR
Which do you care about more? Winning and having the best D-Man on the ice or what hand the player is!?
Lots of D-Men play both sides and some of the best most effective RD's are Left Handed, like Rasmus Dahlin & Shea Theodore for example
Don't be a handist man
Why NASH signed Lauzon for $2mil boggles my mind, same with Tucker Poolman in VAN. Like Crazy Bad Decisions imo
Even if you don't agree with NSH acquiring Lauzon or signing him to that contract, bringing in another bottom of the roster defenseman without subtracting one would be doubling down on the mistake.
I'm still keeping an open mind about Lauzon. No one identifies and develops young defensive talent like the Preds. They've earned some leeway with me.
Välimäki wouldn't get as big of an opportunity in NSH than Lauzon either. The coaches know Lauzon, and have had a chance to work with him already. Lauzon's older, more experienced, and has been a regular member of an NHL roster before. Even if you feel he has the higher ceiling, Välimäki hasn't developed that far yet, and younger defensemen usually get very short leashes and very little icetime in NSH. With Borocop in the mix too, for nights they want some more muscle in the lineup, Välimäki would honestly be #8 on the depth chart, with Lauzon still there.
With five top four defensemen on the roster already, bringing in another option for the final spot isn't a priority. It's redundant, and just eats up a little more of what's left of NSH's cap space unnecessarily.