He will provide the Flames with something that they lack..
Someone the other team will be aware of and even jockey their lines to stay away from.
The Fancy dancers would consider the option of dumping it in rather than making the move at the Blueline..... The break out plans would be aware that around the boards might have some degree of danger involved and try forcing up the middle.
Sarich would do it from time to time... less as he aged and Phanuef did it consistently for every year he was a Flame... you remember the 4 straight years that the Flames made the playoffs as they clearly were expected to.
Bolling and Engelland are a move to get the Flames back their edge.
I really think that having Gio and Wideman as the Flames 4/5 toughest d-men will make a huge difference in attitude of teh whole team. Before Smid (and the old-man playing out his contract play of O'Brien) Gio was the Flames most (only?) physical defenseman getting Ice time.
Engelland, Sieloff, Smid, Gio Wideman and Brodie provides enough toughness to be a playoff team
Smid, Gio, Butler, Wideman, Russell and Brodie did not and never would.
|