Joel Hanley May Still Have a Useful Role in Calgary

Nothing particularly exciting is happening here, right? Just a 35-year-old defenseman is cleared for training camp. Nobody will mistake Joel Hanley for the next great Calgary Flames blueliner. But that doesn't mean his return isn't important.

Hanley missed the final part of last season after suffering an upper-body injury in late March. Before that, he played 68 games for Calgary, picking up seven assists while blocking 90 shots and throwing 42 hits. Those aren't numbers that jump off the page. In fact, they're probably the opposite. In fact, in 314 NHL games, Hanley has scored just five goals. That he’s still playing shows coaches trust him.

And that's kind of the point for a depth blueliner like Hanley.

Hanley isn't being asked to carry Calgary's defence. He's not there to run the power play or suddenly become an offensive force. At this stage of his career, his job is much simpler: give the Flames some reliable depth and make the coach feel reasonably comfortable when his number is called. That can have value.

Calgary will have competition for spots on the blue line, and Hanley’s biggest competition among left-shot defensemen includes Yan Kuznetsov and Abram Wiebe. The younger players may have more upside, and that's exactly why camp will be interesting. But upside isn't the only thing a team needs.

Some nights, somebody will get hurt. There will be stretches when a defenseman isn't playing particularly well. Some nights, the coaching staff wants somebody who knows where to be and won’t panic when things get messy. That's where a player like Hanley can become useful.

Hanley understands his role very well with the Flames.

At 35, he knows what he is. More importantly, Calgary knows what it is getting from him. That's not a bad thing when you're building a dependable defensive group. The 90 blocked shots last season tell part of the story. Hanley isn't afraid to get in the way of the puck. The 42 hits tell another part. He won't make opponents particularly comfortable, either.

The question isn't whether Hanley can suddenly become a star. It's whether he can win a job in camp and give Calgary a veteran option when the season gets going. That's a much more reasonable challenge.

And maybe that's what makes this worth watching. The Flames have younger defensemen who need opportunities, but having an experienced player around can give a team a little insurance. Hanley has to earn his place, just like everybody else.

But don't be surprised if the old guy finds a way to stick around.