Quote:
Originally Posted by Serapth
Mostly because after Gio went down, Brodie showed that he could play with other players, in fact make them play much better.
On the other hand, Russel and Wideman seem to have greatly exceeded expectations and a lot of it the chemistry between them. Together are they better than the sum of their parts? I don't think so.
In NO way am I saying Brodie is a 3rd pairing DMan, he is easily a 1A/1B. He has however proven he can play with and be extremely successful with other players. In fact, it is Brodie's skill that makes him so flexible on who he can be paired with.
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Of course Brodie can play with other defenders. So can Giordano. So can Russell and Wideman, and any other quality NHL defenseman.
That's not a reason to break up a pairing that works.
I have said this in another thread already, but the idea of breaking up Giordano and Brodie, so that you don't break up Russell and Wideman, is so ludicrous that it is difficult to respond to.
When setting up the defense, start with your best players and do what makes sense with them. Then work your way down to the guys that will get less ice-time and less key ice-time.
This training camp is going to be all about who works well with Hamilton.
Maybe that's Russell. Maybe its Engelland or Smid or Wotherspoon. Or maybe it's Giordano or Brodie.
But if you're going to break up Giordano/Brodie, there has to be a damn good reason for it. And there has to be a great alternative option for whichever one isn't playing with Hamilton.
I think some fans may be getting ahead of themselves with Hamilton. He is a great player. He has UNLIMITED potential. But right now, Giordano and Brodie are both better defensemen.
That won't continue to be true forever. And it might not even be true in a year. But right now, today, Hamilton isn't as good as Giordano or Brodie.