He’s an overpay at $2.5 and he’s a UFA after the season. He’s run out of options.
Here’s a perfect example of a team who probably ruined a player. Something not usually the case with Nashville. Which makes me think, maybe he just never did have enough.
However, he should’ve spent at least a year, playing a top role in the AHL. If you draft a dman in the 1st Round, every place he plays, needs to be in the role you envision him playing.
Very few Dmen work their way up an NHL depth chart at the NHL level. They play Top 4 roles and special teams at every level, and slide right into that role with their NHL team. It’s why we should worry about Jiricek in Columbus. He should be playing Top pairing minutes in the AHL. You can work your way up the depth chart in other leagues. Just not the NHL. It really is rare.
Just look at how Clarke and Edvinsson have jumped right into their roles this year. That’s how you develop Dmen. If they’re not ready for that role in the NHL yet, don’t push them.
Consequently, he just never developed anything above average. Everything he does is average to below average. That’s why he’s on waivers today.
Now, does some team who liked him 5-6 years ago, wanna take a shot at $2.5 million? Possibly. The good part is, he’s a UFA after the season, so you’re not locked in AND you can bury a million of him, if you need to.
He hasn’t been good though guys. He hasn’t even been average. He’s a bottom pairing dman. Meaning his expendable. Once again, it’s why he’s on waivers today.
It’ll be interesting to see who, if anyone claims him. Will a bottom team, or will a team like the Canucks? We’ll see tomorrow.