Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
I actually think that Wideman - with all his warts - was playing fairly steady hockey especially to start the season. Engelland, Wideman and then Hamilton were the first defencemen it seemed to start playing well. The wheels came off for Wideman again unfortunately, but I give Wideman credit where credit is due.
I don't know what was going on with Brodie. He looked bad with Wideman, he looked bad with Engelland (and he looked great with Engelland in the past) - Brodie just looked bad. I completely disagree with it being a 'bad partner' - Brodie was making terrible decisions out there in the first half of the season that didn't involve covering for his partner. His pinches were horrible for instance, and Wideman I thought covered for him too often.
I think it was the adjustment to the left side, and not playing with Giordano any longer. The system changes probably had an effect as well. There are a lot of excuses as to why Brodie was not playing well, but 'getting pulled down by his partner' wasn't one of them. Thankfully they seem fully resolved (and I thought Brodie was really turning his game around BEFORE the Stone acquisition anyways), and I expect to have him playing well again this season.
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Yeah, IMO excuses for Brodie that involve Wideman are a little oversold here. I agree he was making bad decisions (and the Wideman factor was that he's not the guy you want trying to cover for a bad pinch, because his footspeed didn't allow it).
Name me a player who's played with a partner the calibre of Gio and not had withdrawal pains when the pair is separated. I think the length of time it took to adjust, and all the right side-left side issues are on Brodie, though.
Hamonic and Brodie should be very good together IMO.