He is better than Carrick and Polak however, and that is the reason for the reaction.
If it was Honka - Carrick or Honka - Polak no one would care. But having Honka who has played really well in the preseason, sitting to a player who has been with the team for two days after almost going on waivers is stupid.
Waivers on a different team.
Kind of like how Elie is garbage to us, but Buffalo thought he was useful.
You think he's better than Carrick, you think he's better than Polak, and at everything on one side of the red line he is significantly so, on his side of the red line, he's behind both significantly.
Clearly the coaching staff feels the amount he's ahead in the offensive zone, doesn't outweigh the amount behind he is in the defensive zone.
But you people would think that we just sat Klingberg 2.0 or Miro for Some inept garbage, or Seguin for Shore or Ritchie, with the way you are crying over this.
I don't like Polak and would personally rather have Honka in as well, but its a spot that is 10-12mins a game, and they want someone that can kill penalties as they have plenty of d-men for the PP with Miro and Lindell anchoring the 2nd pairing