I think most on here will agree with you, I see them as a much better as a 5-6 pair to groom for the future. I think Sbisa and a signed UFA or RFA acquisition fit the bill a bit more in terms of being able to play those type of minutes next year. Hutton 's number's since taking on more minutes(and this opinion isn't popular, but statistically factual in terms of a major drop) aren't very good.
- neem55

Wether it's popular or not doesn't matter. Hutton is still a mess defensively and needs to be sheltered. I wouldn't be handing him top 4 minutes, they should be earned. He got them through injury this season.

Wether it's popular or not doesn't matter. Hutton is still a mess defensively and needs to be sheltered. I wouldn't be handing him top 4 minutes, they should be earned. He got them through injury this season.
- golfingsince

It is fine to bring in a guy that scores 7-12 goals a year and is reliable. I don't see a need to bring in a guy at a high price that has 4 goals in two years.

Wether it's popular or not doesn't matter. Hutton is still a mess defensively and needs to be sheltered. I wouldn't be handing him top 4 minutes, they should be earned. He got them through injury this season.
- golfingsince

Yup, thats why I see him at a 4/5 guy. Some games he will get more ice time and others he will need to be sheltered a bit. His offseason will dictate how often he's in the top 4 and how often he's the 3rd pairing. He has some good instincts with the puck and transitioning, but he's defensive zone awareness needs to and should improve as he gets stronger and quicker to match the forwards he needs to face

Other than good RFA D its a thin list for D. Idc for any UFA's much.

Wether it's popular or not doesn't matter. Hutton is still a mess defensively and needs to be sheltered. I wouldn't be handing him top 4 minutes, they should be earned. He got them through injury this season.
- golfingsince

I agree. I hope they both come into camp and prove me wrong, I just thin kthe prudent move would be to sign a top-4 guy like a Demers, Benn, schenn.

It is fine to bring in a guy that scores 7-12 goals a year and is reliable. I don't see a need to bring in a guy at a high price that has 4 goals in two years.
- VANTEL

It really depends on what he's asking for. The D market is usually insane so it could very well work out that Hamhuis is the best option. Handing over PP minutes to youth wouldn't bother me at all, those are generally much easier minutes.

I see only Stecher being added to help our D revamp along.
Nothing says how he will he pan out either.

Yup, thats why I see him at a 4/5 guy. Some games he will get more ice time and others he will need to be sheltered a bit. His offseason will dictate how often he's in the top 4 and how often he's the 3rd pairing. He has some good instincts with the puck and transitioning, but he's defensive zone awareness needs to and should improve as he gets stronger and quicker to match the forwards he needs to face
- WhiteLie

Not to be pessimistic as we're all hoping he improves defensively, but that's not always the case with the young offensive type. Sometimes they regress, other times they stay about the same.

Let's all hope he's tough mentally.

Other than good RFA D its a thin list for D. Idc for any UFA's much.
- Nighthawk

So we should start preparing ourselves for Gildon?!
http://thehockeywriters.c...s-for-the-2017-nhl-draft/

It really depends on what he's asking for. The D market is usually insane so it could very well work out that Hamhuis is the best option. Handing over PP minutes to youth wouldn't bother me at all, those are generally much easier minutes.
- golfingsince

I'm with u on that. Hammer @3m/2yrs is my offer.
Demers Benn Schenn don't excite me much.

Not to be pessimistic as we're all hoping he improves defensively, but that's not always the case with the young offensive type. Sometimes they regress, other times they stay about the same.

Let's all hope he's tough mentally.
- golfingsince

Yeah and thats why I said earlier normally I think that would be the case but I think him being a college guy who faced fast and stronger opponents than CHL, that if he struggles it would be more of a stagnant development rather than regression. A lot of factors could play into it obviously, but its my own gut feeling that his experience in NCAA will help him into his sophomore season

So we should start preparing ourselves for Gildon?!
http://thehockeywriters.c...s-for-the-2017-nhl-draft/
- WhiteLie

Well i believe next season will again be more ups & downs.
Won't be surprised if we again r in the hunt for a lotto win.
All is up to what JB can remake of the D & the results the kids can bring.

It really depends on what he's asking for. The D market is usually insane so it could very well work out that Hamhuis is the best option. Handing over PP minutes to youth wouldn't bother me at all, those are generally much easier minutes.
- golfingsince

Let's remove Hutton from the equation

Hamhuis sucks on the PP . I don't think Hutton is the answer at all to be truthful, but Hamhuis sure isn't either. Look at his point production?

I agree about Hutton should be bottom pairing but we have tried the alternative and have like 3 playoff wins in 5 years.

I think it is time to look for different answers.

I'm with u on that. Hammer @3m/2yrs is my offer.
Demers Benn Schenn don't excite me much.
- Nighthawk

But 4 goals in two years excites you?

Let's remove Hutton from the equation

Hamhuis sucks on the PP . I don't think Hutton is the answer at all to be truthful, but Hamhuis sure isn't either. Look at his point production?

I agree about Hutton should be bottom pairing but we have tried the alternative and have like 3 playoff wins in 5 years.

I think it is time to look for different answers.
- VANTEL

I hated seeing Hammer on the PP. it was dumb dumb & dumber.

I see only Stecher being added to help our D revamp along.
Nothing says how he will he pan out either.
- Nighthawk

I never saw Hutton play college but Stecher looked good last weekend. Very high confidence and composure at that level. It would be amazing if he could surprise like Hutton did, but I just can't see JB letting him on the roster regardless of how well he performs given his love for mentorship. Tryamkin, Hutton, Stecher, Pedan are too many young guns to go with at one time for Willie to handle

Yeah and thats why I said earlier normally I think that would be the case but I think him being a college guy who faced fast and stronger opponents than CHL, that if he struggles it would be more of a stagnant development rather than regression. A lot of factors could play into it obviously, but its my own gut feeling that his experience in NCAA will help him into his sophomore season
- WhiteLie

I hope so, but Gardiner and Schultz were both NCAA players that regressed after their first season.

Gardiner is just getting back there now, and who knows how it will turn out with Schultz.

But 4 goals in two years excites you?
- VANTEL

2yrs here & who is he holding back or who brings offense from the UFA pool?
R we going anywhere in the next 2 seasons or is it patience time?

2yrs here & who is he holding back or who brings offense from the UFA pool?
R we going anywhere in the next 2 seasons or is it patience time?
- Nighthawk

or we OS barrie 7 mil per and roll the dice.

I hated seeing Hammer on the PP. it was dumb dumb & dumber.
- Nighthawk

Ok you hate that part of his game , what part of his game do you love that you want him back?

I never saw Hutton play college but Stecher looked good last weekend. Very high confidence and composure at that level. It would be amazing if he could surprise like Hutton did, but I just can't see JB letting him on the roster regardless of how well he performs given his love for mentorship. Tryamkin, Hutton, Stecher, Pedan are too many young guns to go with at one time for Willie to handle
- WhiteLie

Hutton set a team record for a D man at his university. 15 goals
Helps he was a converted F.

Let's remove Hutton from the equation

Hamhuis sucks on the PP . I don't think Hutton is the answer at all to be truthful, but Hamhuis sure isn't either. Look at his point production?

I agree about Hutton should be bottom pairing but we have tried the alternative and have like 3 playoff wins in 5 years.

I think it is time to look for different answers.
- VANTEL

I think we are looking for different answers, we just can't change all of the answers at once.

Look at the roster turnover, it's real.

It might be painful for you and others but there is a real possibility that Hamhuis is the best we can do for our back end in free agency, and that's before we factor in a discount.

In general, there aren't a whole bunch of big time D that are available July 1. If there was one in his mid-late twenties, i'd be all for backing up the Brinks truck to his door.

2yrs here & who is he holding back or who brings offense from the UFA pool?
R we going anywhere in the next 2 seasons or is it patience time?
- Nighthawk

That's a sound reinforcement .

I think we are looking for different answers, we just can't change all of the answers at once.

Look at the roster turnover, it's real.

It might be painful for you and others but there is a real possibility that Hamhuis is the best we can do for our back end in free agency, and that's before we factor in a discount.

In general, there aren't a whole bunch of big time D that are available July 1. If there was one in his mid-late twenties, i'd be all for backing up the Brinks truck to his door.
- golfingsince

My exact meaning but just not worded as well.👍🏻

That's a sound reinforcement .
- VANTEL

Well beats outta thin air replacements😂😂