I guess Grier may be looking for this year's Yanni Gourde. An AHL player for 6 years who never really got a real shot and then at age 25/26, the lighting gave him a chance and boom.
Or he could be looking to address the fact that the Cuda defense was the reason we were abysmal last season.
There can't really be any arguments we don't have the personnel on defense in the AHL anymore. We've now got two All-Stars in Carlsson and Thompson (three if you include Muk, who I think will be in the NHL), Schuldt who just played a significant role on a Western Conference-winning team, two of the steadier hands from last season in Pulli and Frisch. Additional depth from Furlong, Laroque, Guryev, Bucheler, Hache.
I'm fairly sure Cagnoni goes back to junior next season at this point. There's just too many guys down here.