The biggest problem for me is that most of us are still stuck in the traditional conceptualization of 1st - 2nd - 3rd - 4th line combinations and their subsequent correlation with skill level and ice-time.
In reality many teams have different combinations of 1A/1B or 2A/2B lines. Each line has a role to play, and their ice-time and effectiveness is purely dependent on the game at hand.
I would imagine there is a lot of slotting in and out with the kind of defensive depth the Flames have. To me, Brodie can be generally classified as a Top 3 defender on a majority of teams in the league.
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"It's a great day for hockey."
-'Badger' Bob Johnson (1931-1991)
"I see as much misery out of them moving to justify theirselves as them that set out to do harm."
-Dr. Amos "Doc" Cochran
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