I don't know. Do what every other team does and play the guys in the position they are assigned to be in? Depth is nice, and I guess if Sweeney's end goal is to be 'adequate for the playoffs incase of injury', then sure, we have 8 defensemen. I'm just not sure I see an upgrade in the 6 on ice defenseman we have when healthy, which I HOPE is a goal of his.
It's not an awful move, I just question how good of a move it's going to be unless they do anything else, unless they are just bandaiding until the inevitable injuries.
It's also sending the message to the Providence players, "You aren't good enough, here's a bigger mountain."; which has been the opposite motive they've had for their forwards.
isn't that what they are doing? Playing the D-men in the positions they are assigned? If the status quo remains, then there just isn't room for the 'kids' to get some games.
you don't have to rely on Gryz every game, you have some injury protection etc etc etc.
as far as improving, I'd be all for it.
but who in the top 'four' are you improving on (or moving out?)
Chara, Mcavoy, Carlo, Krug? (and I am not against moving anyone of them not named Mcavoy)
but that's were your improvement comes in, the top 4. the #5&6 spots are going to be your low end low pay players unless they are on ELC.
and as far as the kids in Providence, hate to say it, but this is the big boy league, if they aren't good enough to earn a spot, they aren't getting a spot.
Gryelcyk got a chance played well and stuck. that's earning a spot.
Mcavoy was given the chance (but lets be honest, it was expected that he'd start in NHL) and earned.
Carlo earned it out of camp.
Take Gryz out and maybe they give a kid more of a chance, but from all accounts for the end of season reviews of providence, the talk was that they didn't feel any of the kid d'men were ready to make the leap.