Smash or trash: The Tomas Fleischmann deal
Since it just went down an hour or two ago, here's my quick assessment of the Tomas Fleischmann/Scott Hannan deal.
I like it.
Flash was never really able to "fit" into a role here. He was never good enough offensively to be the 2C or winger that we needed, and he wasn't good enough defensively to fit in a role on that side of the puck either. Frankly, of all the players on the team, he was the most superfluous.
Hannan is a solid defenseman with a lot of experience who doesn't miss a lot of games due to injury. He provides a lot of NHL-level depth to a defensive corps that needed it (sorry Tyler Sloan), and while John Erskine is having a pretty good year so far, the chances of that holding up over the entire season are about as slim as the Redskins' playoff chances (zing!). The guy eats minutes (averaging 14.72/60 this season, averaged close to 20 last season). His contract expires after this year, so there's no long term commitment on the Caps part, which is also a good thing.
On a more personal note, it's always kind of sad to see a guy go who you've watched play over a number of years. You get used to seeing guys and "interacting" with them as a fan and feel like you get to "know" them and their particular quirks in lots of ways. I wish Flash nothing but the best of luck in Colorado.
Final verdict? Smash.
By
Ryan Cooper
| November 30, 2010; 2:09 PM ET
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Capitals, Ryan Cooper
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I remember Flash coming back from his blood clot early last year -- he was so excited to be playing again, and I felt that his enthusiasm made him a good fit here. It's too bad he couldn't find an equally good fit on the ice.
Posted by: nicko | November 30, 2010 6:43 PM | Report abuse
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