Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
Lets assume you can't move Wideman (not sure that's true), do you move Engellend? Engellend and eat some salary? Or is it someone like Bollig? Stajan?
Part of me is leery as I don't want to upset the apple cart on what I think would be a solid top four.
Giordano - Brodie
Jokkipakka - Hamilton
is so interesting to me.
could they demote the old 2nd pairing to a third pairing and go with Russell/Wideman again?
Russell Hamilton didn't seem to be a feasible pair.
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What we saw from the Flames last season was that if either Wideman or Russell are spending extended time in your top 4 you are going to bleed chances. If you don't have good goal tending, those chances will be hemorrhaging goals because of the quality of them.
Russell spent more time going down last year than Fotze's mom which is as sure a sign as any of either being out of position or behind the play.
Russell is by no means awful, but he's an undersized defender who looks like he's losing his skating legs. That's a downright awful combination to have.
Two years ago he looked like he had success by being .2 steps ahead of the opposition. Last year he looked like he was .2 steps behind the opposition and it was ugly for Calgary.
The worst possible scenario for Calgary next year is Wideman and Russell on the bottom pairing together. Scotty Bowman couldn't coach that pairing to decent defensive play.
I agree about having faith in your goalie but having faith in your goalie doesn't make wideman and russell faster or bigger. Flames need a big improvement from #4D on down if they want to make noise next season.
For me, if it's true the Flames and Russell are waiting on dropping some bad salary, it has me somewhat concerned.