Player Discussion Nikolas Matinpalo (D)

There's only 11 Finnish defensemen playing in the NHL, so it's not exactly a huge accomplishment. He was their 10th choice.
 
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Poor Ristolainen has to be the unluckiest player in the NHL. Has never made the playoffs and now doesn't even get to go to a fun tourney for his home nation.
 
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Good for him, but now there's no way he goes through waivers if he's getting that recognition.

It’s not about recognition to be honest he was the only RD that plays in the NHL that’s from Finland aside from the players that are already named to the team.

This is a strictly NHL players tournament that replaces the All-Star week.

Matinpalo got the call because no one else was available, they didn’t pick him over other guys.

That said, it is a good opportunity for him to show what he can do and that might attract eyes on him… and you’re right that if he plays well there teams will take attention and he may not go through waivers.

As of now I think they would waive JBD when he’s healthy and they will keep Matinpalo and Hamonic here. They should waive Hamonic but he’s a vet blablabla.
 
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It’s not about recognition to be honest he was the only RD that plays in the NHL that’s from Finland aside from the players that are already named to the team.

This is a strictly NHL players tournament that replaces the All-Star week.

Matinpalo got the call because no one else was available, they didn’t pick him over other guys.

That said, it is a good opportunity for him to show what he can do and that might attract eyes on him… and you’re right that if he plays well there teams will take attention and he may not go through waivers.

As of now I think they would waive JBD when he’s healthy and they will keep Matinpalo and Hamonic here. They should waive Hamonic but he’s a vet blablabla.
JBD has not progressed very much in his time here. Matinpalo has played decently and not been a disaster; however, I think Yak is the future 3RD either next season or the one after that. Yak will grow more as he is younger.
 
As of now I think they would waive JBD when he’s healthy and they will keep Matinpalo and Hamonic here. They should waive Hamonic but he’s a vet blablabla.
I don't think he would go through waivers. RHD are hard to find, so you could even see a playoff team pick him up if they are short on RHD depth.

I think they should look to trade JBD for a LHD in a similar situation, or a LHD UFA around the same cost (with retention?).
 
As of now I think they would waive JBD when he’s healthy and they will keep Matinpalo and Hamonic here. They should waive Hamonic but he’s a vet blablabla.
Not waiving Hamonic has nothing to do with him being a Vet, he has a Full NMC, we can't waive him even if we wanted to.
 
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Full time NHLer. Everyday Hamonic is squeezed into the lineup is another 'collective' loss for the team. I understand why it happens - both under Smith and now Green. Gotta play up to 'experience'. It is a unionized environment after all.

Hopefully he shines in this tournament and his play can't be 'tucked away' as a coincidental fluke anymore.
 
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