Exactly, that's how they got him to sign. Tell the guy he's the starter and he's game. But now what can we do if he is outplayed by Bell or Meredith? Pencil him in as experienced depth or cut him if it's necessary.
Really, this was a smart move, no matter how bad people want to put a negative spin on it. Sure, we would have liked a better OT, with a better track record, but the FA pool isn't exactly teeming with great options this year.