I agree, very strange to have 5 RHD. A lot of it has been strange though. I didn't understand exposing Colin Miller. I would think that if the plan was to trade a D later in the summer, keeping Colin would have made more sense because Colin's cap hit would have been easier to move. My guess is the reason they did it was because they knew it was the one way they could ensure keeping both Kevan and McQuaid, and they intend to keep and play them both. Both of those guys played well for them last year and Kevan's ability to play both sides gives them some flexibility. I also think there's an element of insurance at play here: Carlo's 20 and McAvoy is only 19. Colin Miller would have given them a 3rd inexperienced defenseman whereas Kevan and Adam are safe, capable options should the kids struggle.
The strangeness got multiplied again when they signed Postma. I would have thought they were going to look for a LH'd version of Paul Postma in free agency, but like you said, here we are. The pickings were pretty slim on the left if they were looking for someone experienced under 30, so maybe they just couldn't get their first choice and they knew Kevan gave them the flexibility to consider right siders as well. Also, I'd think the first 2-3 call-ups on defense are going to be LH shots (O'Gara, Grzlcyk, Johansson), so maybe that was a consideration.
I think, from a planning standpoint, it was probably safer to think about starting the season with McAvoy in a 3rd pair role, leaving 33 with 25 and 47 with 54 (basically what worked well last year). McAvoy would need a steady vet partner and Kevan's flexibility makes him an easy fit. Things get messy if/when McAvoy starts crushing it and merits a top4 role. That would push McQuaid down and a 3rd pair of Kevan/McQuaid sounds like a train wreck, but they probably look at that as a good problem to have.
As far as Cam lobbying for a LHD and them turning around and signing a RHD...
that just feels like par for the course with this management team. They seem to say a lot of things that just don't come to pass.[/QUOTE]
You know what, they really do say a lot of **** but don't follow up with action. Can't figure that out. What they say makes sense "we need a LHD and a LW and then turn around and sign a RHD. They seldom seem to do as they say. Really good call Bill!