Don't think so. Bart was signed to meet the ED requirements & had to be signed for this year. Bank on Bart being in the AHL to start the season if Wotherspoon is signed. Kulak will be #6 or 7. Kylington just might have a camp that wins him that #6 spot. Would love to see Valimaki get a 9 game audition before being sent to the CHL, have Kulak as #7 & I'm sure Wotherspoon or /& Bart will clear waivers.
- Kevin R

that doesnt explain why Bart was playing and not just sitting as a 7th
there is def some preferential treatment that factored in getting him into so many games...maybe the coach wanted a more experience d-man in their playoff push

There was also the theory that they wanted to bury Kulak so the he would be off Vegas's radar. But that seems kind of ridiculous.

There was also the theory that they wanted to bury Kulak so the he would be off Vegas's radar. But that seems kind of ridiculous.
- DuranDuran

Does it though? He played well on a solid Stockton team, and got some experience down there that likely didn't impede his development... we know he's a solid prospect but he kind of flew under the radar. I think if he was in the NHL last year full time, Vegas takes him. They could have simply signed engs anyway as a UFA if they still wanted him. I think there is some truth to it

that doesnt explain why Bart was playing and not just sitting as a 7th
there is def some preferential treatment that factored in getting him into so many games...maybe the coach wanted a more experience d-man in their playoff push
- cpltanto

I mean, it was either Bart or Wideman as our #7... Pick one. We needed to meet Expansion Draft requirements so we could protect all three of Gio, Dougie, and Brodie. Would you rather have Bart for one more season or lose one of those three to expansion?

Was Bart great? No, but it was either him or Wideman and his signing let us keep our big 3 protected.

I mean, it was either Bart or Wideman as our #7... Pick one. We needed to meet Expansion Draft requirements so we could protect all three of Gio, Dougie, and Brodie. Would you rather have Bart for one more season or lose one of those three to expansion?

Was Bart great? No, but it was either him or Wideman and his signing let us keep our big 3 protected.
- Helios

This

Send Bartowski to the A and bring up TW, we won't know what we have unless we play them. Getting tired of blocking prospects with retreads!
Just my 2cents! Now that guys a major a hole!

There was also the theory that they wanted to bury Kulak so the he would be off Vegas's radar. But that seems kind of ridiculous.
- DuranDuran

That was my theory and Vegas did end up taking Engellund over Kulak, soo mission accomplished

I think BT did take a long term look at things. We weren't really in a position to challenge for the cup last year. Instead of risking losing Kulak we went with Bart (I really didn't think he was an upgrade over Wideman--at all )

BT pushed his chips to the middle this year--and now we have Kulak as our (likely) 6th dman. I'm going to forgive them for playing Bart as much as they did.

That was my theory and Vegas did end up taking Engellund over Kulak, soo mission accomplished

I think BT did take a long term look at things. We weren't really in a position to challenge for the cup last year. Instead of risking losing Kulak we went with Bart (I really didn't think he was an upgrade over Wideman--at all )

BT pushed his chips to the middle this year--and now we have Kulak as our (likely) 6th dman. I'm going to forgive them for playing Bart as much as they did.
- Saskabush

Kulak pans out and becomes a regular there's another 4th round gem!

Send Bartowski to the A and bring up TW, we won't know what we have unless we play them. Getting tired of blocking prospects with retreads!
Just my 2cents! Now that guys a major a hole!
- K-man25

That's not a reason though. Should be play the best lineup that helps you win games.

That's not a reason though. Should be play the best lineup that helps you win games.
- The-O-G

We're talking the 7th d

Engelland I agree will be missed but he was being played with Brodie at the beginning even getting more time on the penalty kill than him. Chaisson obvious choice to replace him should have been Bennett, not sure why this hasn't been tried. Vey got time with the big club even time on the pp before being relegated to the A. I'm sure Bartowski was signed because of gg's association with him in Vancouver. So to say this is an overreaction is bull.
Coaches definitely have favourites!
- K-man25

They want Bennett at centre, pretty straight forward there. On top of that, he plays left when he plays the wing. Not sure what Vey you're thinking of but Linden Vey started off on fire in Stockton last year and earned his callup. He was ineffective and sent down after four games. The only reason Bartkowski was signed was some fancy expansion draft nonsense. Engelland was playing with Brodie because Wideman.

No one you listed got preferential treatment to the detriment of the team last year.

They want Bennett at centre, pretty straight forward there. On top of that, he plays left when he plays the wing. Not sure what Vey you're thinking of but Linden Vey started off on fire in Stockton last year and earned his callup. He was ineffective and sent down after four games. The only reason Bartkowski was signed was some fancy expansion draft nonsense. Engelland was playing with Brodie because Wideman.

No one you listed got preferential treatment to the detriment of the team last year.
- Hunkulese

Weren't there quite a few games at the beginning of the year last year that Engalland had played more minutes than doggie? I think that says a lot about gully. I think forcing Brodie to play on his less preferred side was a mistake as well. As for Chiason he was on the top line way to long gully should have realized it, he tried to force it.

Weren't there quite a few games at the beginning of the year last year that Engalland had played more minutes than doggie? I think that says a lot about gully. I think forcing Brodie to play on his less preferred side was a mistake as well. As for Chiason he was on the top line way to long gully should have realized it, he tried to force it.
- ksofm

GG brought guys like Dougie and Ferland in slowly. Remember, the year before Dougie & Gio looked horrible together and Ferland was not very good either.

Towards the end of that season Hamilton was playing much better--but he still had not earned the trust of the coaching staff. GG made these guys work for every minute they got last year, but he also put them in situations where they could succeed.

By the end of last season Dougie and Ferland had both found there games, were playing with confidence and there ice time increased because of it. Gully is a damn good coach, he successfully won me over last year.

GG brought guys like Dougie and Ferland in slowly. Remember, the year before Dougie & Gio looked horrible together and Ferland was not very good either.

Towards the end of that season Hamilton was playing much better--but he still had not earned the trust of the coaching staff. GG made these guys work for every minute they got last year, but he also put them in situations where they could succeed.

By the end of last season Dougie and Ferland had both found there games, were playing with confidence and there ice time increased because of it. Gully is a damn good coach, he successfully won me over last year.
- Saskabush

I'm not as sold on him as much as you. I'm going to keep an open mind this year now that he knows the team we'll see what he does. My biggest problem with him was player usage and how he tried to force success. Brower on the top pp unit was another example I forgot to mention.

I'm not as sold on him as much as you. I'm going to keep an open mind this year now that he knows the team we'll see what he does. My biggest problem with him was player usage and how he tried to force success. Brower on the top pp unit was another example I forgot to mention.
- ksofm

I'm not as sold on him as much as you. I'm going to keep an open mind this year now that he knows the team we'll see what he does. My biggest problem with him was player usage and how he tried to force success. Brower on the top pp unit was another example I forgot to mention.
- ksofm

I think Ferland is the player he was at the end of the season because of how GG used him to start the season. He learned what he needed to do to be an effective NHL player when he played limited minutes.

Brouwer on the top unit was probably more management influence than anything (they paid Brouwer a lot of money--they want to see him performing).

Chiasson on the top line was more out of necessity. The other RW's on the team were Frolik, Brouwer and Versteeg. Frolik wasn't going anywhere and we needed Versteeg on that 3rd line (imagine Brouwer and Chiasson with poor Sammy ).

I do get the complaint that he probably should've gave a few guys some more minutes way sooner than he did. I just think the results we saw after the team finally started buying in to his system speak for themselves. We were one of the best teams in the league from November on, when they stuck to the gameplan they could be downright dominant.