Wideman heating up - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

killer_carlson · 12-09-2015, 10:07 AM

4 points in three games for Wideman. He re-assumes the team lead in defenceman scoring, 2 points up on Brodie and Giordano.

Over the last 5-7 games it looks like he's been the Wideman from last season. I don't think it is a coincidence that his improved play comes when he is back playing the right hand side of the ice (as a right hand shot). (mind you, last night he may have been on the left when paired with Hamilton again).

This guy was turning into a whipping boy, but the critics were not recognizing that switching him to the other side of the ice is a transition that many players struggle with.

Huntingwhale · 12-09-2015, 10:13 AM

I've been a big supporter of Wideman since the day he signed. I always like his offensive game and I thought his defensive gaffs were always overblown. But it was getting pretty hard to defend him early on in the season. Give away after give away, no longer a good PP QB, and making boneheaded plays. I'm glad he's settled down, the giveaways are fewer, and he's playing decent defensively.

Still not happy that he's somehow lost his PP BQ capabilities. Johnny seems to have moved into that role, but I think we are missing Wideman's bomb from the point. He's got one of the hardest shots in the league, but we've rarely seen it so far this season. We have players with great wrist shots. But we are missing his one-timer from the point that he displayed so often last season.

I'm glad he's playing better, but I wouldn't object to him being moved if the price was right. And that's coming from a big supporter of his.

Phaneufenstein · 12-09-2015, 11:17 AM

The problem with Wideman is skating and puck retrieval.

When the opposing team is skating into our zone and Wideman is struggling to keep up, it's terrifying. Same when the other teams is cycling the puck in our zone.

For the most part he makes a good outlet pass and is poised when the puck is on his stick.

GioforPM · 12-09-2015, 11:21 AM

I like Wideman and also think his defensive mistakes are overblown. The big difference between this year and last is that his point shots are not getting through as much or are wide open for the goalie. Still, he is one of Johnny's go-to pass recipients, and I think it's starting to click again.

HotHotHeat · 12-09-2015, 11:21 AM

He's still doing a terrible job carrying the play into the offensive zone during a power play. Doesn't move his feet at all through the nuetral zone.

FBI · 12-09-2015, 03:20 PM

I noticed that yesterday as well, super slooooow entry

Armchair Quarterback · 12-09-2015, 03:23 PM

He played excellent last night, as did Hamilton. Our defence in general is really looking much better the past couple of games.

Dion · 12-09-2015, 04:59 PM

I hope his great play continues. We need to get a good return from him at the trade deadline.

Patek23 · 12-09-2015, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

I hope his great play continues. We need to get a good return from him at the trade deadline.

Correct. Good that he's heating up as now he is worth more than a bag of pucks. Very good when hot, and terribad when cold. Unfortunately he is cold way more than hot. Hopefully he is moved before he starts to shat the bed again.

Ozy_Flame · 12-09-2015, 05:24 PM

Wideman has an NMC, which will severely limit what BT can freely do.

I know many of you don't like it, but it isn't Wideman moving at or before the deadline; it will be Russell. The Flames depth and today's NHL economics just completely lean that way.

Erick Estrada · 12-09-2015, 05:36 PM

Hopefully he can continue this strong play into the trade deadline and a Cup contending team runs into injury issues on the blueline.

sharkov · 12-09-2015, 06:00 PM

0 goals but 13 assists. quite the shot

tvp2003 · 12-09-2015, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Wideman heating up

Does this mean he is getting closer to the sun?

Strange Brew · 12-09-2015, 06:17 PM

It surprises me that Wideman receives some of the praise he does. I admit he played reasonably well in the win against SJ but IMO he has never come close to earning hIs salary. Not an issue last year because of our cap room but championship teams aren't paying a guy like this $5+ million. Unless the Flames retain salary (and he agrees to move) he is a Flame until next years deadline. Let's hope he plays well and we win as much as we can while he's here.

mikephoen · 12-09-2015, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

It surprises me that Wideman receives some of the praise he does. I admit he played reasonably well in the win against SJ but IMO he has never come close to earning hIs salary. Not an issue last year because of our cap room but championship teams aren't paying a guy like this $5+ million. Unless the Flames retain salary (and he agrees to move) he is a Flame until next years deadline. Let's hope he plays well and we win as much as we can while he's here.

Praise? He gets almost no praise here. He gets crapped on in almost every thread, regardless of the topic.

He definitely earned his money last year. He had 54 points! He was 4th in the entire league for scoring, and he logged a ton of minutes, especially after Gio went down. His salary isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Top defensemen in this league make more than 10 Million a year.

GoJetsGo · 12-09-2015, 06:35 PM

Wideman suffers from the same thing Engellland and Smid do: unrealistic expectations form a portion of the fanbase / posters on this site.

He's a 4/5 offensive d-man who's going to put up points while being mediocre in his own end. He's also getting up there in age, and isn't going to be the best skater.

If he was as well rounded (tighter in his own end) as some people would like, he'd be a top pairing d-man and making several million more.

I think he's fine for where we're at now. When his contract runs out he's going to be past his best and we'll have gotten some good mileage out of him.

For now he's heating back up and fuelling offense, and the people talking about waiving/buying him out / shooting him into space need to grab a clue and put their expectations in check.

GoJetsGo · 12-09-2015, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I admit he played reasonably well in the win against SJ but IMO he has never come close to earning hIs salary.

This is exactly the type of nonsense I was referring to.

Wideman put up 56 points last year, good for 4th overall in d-man scoring. Only Karlson, Burns and Subban had more points.

He didn't earn his salary last year?

Strange Brew · 12-09-2015, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikephoen

Praise? He gets almost no praise here. He gets crapped on in almost every thread, regardless of the topic.

He definitely earned his money last year. He had 54 points! He was 4th in the entire league for scoring, and he logged a ton of minutes, especially after Gio went down. His salary isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Top defensemen in this league make more than 10 Million a year.

I appreciate your defense of the guy and I agree he played well much of last year. But let's not confuse him with a top defenseman in the league. And for a guy who should be a PP specialist theFlames have never had a great PP with him.

Regardless of who signed them, there are not many good UFA signings on this team. Hudler is the exception. I suspect other teams look this way too, so really points to how important it it to build from within.

GoJetsGo · 12-09-2015, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I appreciate your defense of the guy and I agree he played well much of last year. But let's not confuse him with a top defenseman in the league. And for a guy who should be a PP specialist theFlames have never had a great PP with him.

Regardless of who signed them, there are not many good UFA signings on this team. Hudler is the exception. I suspect other teams look this way too, so really points to how important it it to build from within.

You're now backtracking.

Look at what you said:

IMO he has never come close to earning hIs salary.

Fourth overall in NHL scoring among defensemen doesn't put him "close" to earning his salary?

Criticize aspects of his game all you want. But that was not an apt observation to suggest he didn't earn his salary last year. He did without a doubt.

Strange Brew · 12-09-2015, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

This is exactly the type of nonsense I was referring to.

Wideman put up 56 points last year, good for 4th overall in d-man scoring. Only Karlson, Burns and Subban had more points.

He didn't earn his salary last year?

I believe BT has been trying to move this guy for a year and there are no takers. Seems to me Friedman has said as much. If our #5 dman was really worth $5 million Flames would be better than they are.