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Best fit for Sami Vatanen? |
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In this edition of the hotstove, we discuss which team(s) would be the best fit for Sami Vatanen.
Todd Cordell
The Carolina Hurricanes stand out as the obvious choice.
With Dougie Hamilton out long-term, they are looking for somebody to play in their top-4. There has been linkage between the Hurricanes and Vatanen – and I think it makes a lot of sense.
Vatanen is hardly the perfect defenseman. He’s not going to produce many points at 5v5, and he’s not going to drive play. The Hurricanes have a strong possession-driven system that can help offset his issues in that area, though.
He has been productive on New Jersey’s power play this season despite a revolving door of mediocre linemates. His rate stats are better than Jaccob Slavin, who now quarterbacks PP1, and I think he could be an upgrade in that area. Giving Vatanen those minutes could either push Slavin to PP2, or off the power play entirely (limiting his workload, which is already quite large).
The Hurricanes have a pretty solid farm system and two picks in each of the first three rounds so I’m sure they could easily come up with a package to meet New Jersey’s demands.
Sean Maloughey
Right now the Carolina Hurricanes make the most sense to me. There are very few defensemen in the league that can push play like Dougie Hamilton and with him out indefinitely due to a broken leg the "Canes have been hurting.
Vatanen is nowhere near the producer Hamilton is (half of Vatanen's assists have come on the powerplay) but he is an offensive minded player who can bring some goals from the backend. He would certainly be a better option to pair with Slavin instead of the current situation that sees Trevor van Riemsdyk in that spot.
Carolina also has an abundance of extra picks this season including an extra 1st round pick and another 2nd and 3rd. With the Hurricanes just on the cusp of being in a playoff position Don Waddell should move one of those picks to give his team an extra push.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
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