I like Bardreau; he's hard not to like as an energy guy. And he wears the 'A' down there for a reason.
But this team is so deep, he'd probably be 17th in the pecking order. He was a bottom 6 player on our AHL team. And we're going to have actual, better, more money invested in NHL talent like Read, Weise, Raffl, Laughton, Lehtera all competing for 3 spots. There is so much talent that we don't need Bardreau types on the 4th line to grind and PK. Another guy like Leier, who certainly is above him on the organizational depth chart and can do what he does better, they may feel is better served being in the AHL. Obviously, Vecchione too. Meanwhile, Bardreau really can't develop any further. He could be a likable, useful 13/14 on and off the ice. That's a role he could fill. Other than that, sorry, but he has no business being on this team.
Hextall mentioned him before last year too, when his stock was a little higher with his better usage, though he got injured and wasn't able to compete in camp. Seems he's another one of his "Brett Hextall replacement sons," and he's just throwing out some praise to a kid he likes.