Logjam on defence

[Griff83]

Currently this is how I would put the pairings

Kaberle Komisarek
Van Ryn Schenn
Exelby White

This leaves Stralman and Finger basically out of the picture for any significant minutes. Theres no way you can justify having a player like Finger whos making the kind of money hes making sitting in the pressbox and if we arent going to have Stralman in the top 6 and recieving good playing time to develop, we might as well trade him for something we can use. Stralman from many rumours hasnt been happy with the fact hes spent so much time in the AHL and theres been rumours that hes thought about bolting back to Sweden a few times. I personally rate Stralman higher then White and I dont think it would be a horrible idea to sell White while hes at his highest value (good season, invited to world championships).

I was a fan of trading Kaberle prior to the latest additions of Komi and Exelby but unless we have a follow up deal for a good proven puckmover I dont think we can afford to lose him because there would become a huge hole.

Who should go? Who should stay?

[TR50]

I'd like to keep Stralman and deal a guy like White...Finger i don't see much use for either and White and Finger are two guys i'd look to move. Possibly Van Ryn too, I'd just hope to see Stralman still here.

[KFlight]

Didn't white suffer a serious neck injury? What's the status on that anyway?

[BurlRapFan]

Not sure what White's injury status is, but I wouldn't trade him just for the sake of trading him. Remember, he started last season way down the depth chart too, sat out several games to start the year, and later on became quite valuable.

Also remember, before injuries (Van Ryn) and trades (Colaiacovo) returned him to regular duty on D, we had him playing 4th-line wing for a few games, and he looked right at home there, playing aggressively, digging in the corners, etc. I wouldn't mind him playing on the wing again this year (as well as being around as a 7th/8th defenceman if needed) at all.

That said, if he's healthy and you get a good offer for him, sure, but don't look to move him just to move him.

[Griff83]

Not sure what White's injury status is, but I wouldn't trade him just for the sake of trading him. Remember, he started last season way down the depth chart too, sat out several games to start the year, and later on became quite valuable.

Also remember, before injuries (Van Ryn) and trades (Colaiacovo) returned him to regular duty on D, we had him playing 4th-line wing for a few games, and he looked right at home there, playing aggressively, digging in the corners, etc. I wouldn't mind him playing on the wing again this year (as well as being around as a 7th/8th defenceman if needed) at all.

That said, if he's healthy and you get a good offer for him, sure, but don't look to move him just to move him.

Its not trading him just for the sake of trading him tho. We have a surplus of defencemen currently on this team. As it stands right now Kaberle, Komisarek and Schenn are all locks to recieve top 4 minutes. After that its up in the air but i'd rank the players like this.... Van Ryn, White, Stralman Exelby, then Finger. Van Ryn is very hard to move currently due to all his injuries and hes not exactly cheap, Finger is basically unmoveable because of his big $ salary for his play and Exelby wont be moved seeing he was just aquired.

I dont think its all that far fetched to think that Stralman can produce similar offensive numbers to what White gives you. It basically comes down to a Stralman vs White argument and I personally like Stralmans size, skillset and age more. We need to give this kid some quality icetime, hes a talented player and we are holding him back. If you cant get him in the lineup regularly he needs to be dealt for some kind of forward (current player or prospect).

Whites value is also prolly as high as it ever will be. Once this team starts to contend your more likely to see him be close to a bottom pairing defencemen then a top pairing defencemen. There are some teams that are in dire need of a D man thats able to move the puck and create some offence. He had a solid season but I think hes starting to become quite overrated by the fanbase.