Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
I was going to say this. The opinions (and they aren't crazy) that Calgary's D is great is not based on their defensive abilities - it's based on the ability to move the puck and contribute offensively.
Can this change? Sure. I think Hamilton has the makings of a really good defender. He has the size, reach and skating to do so. He just needs to learn it better. Hamonic is pretty good now, but has to play with Brodie, which is hard (Warrener said its a really difficult job to play with a guy like Brodie - it's easier, he said, to play with Wideman). Stone is physical sometimes, but not stellar defensively. I think Kulak could be good, like Hamilton, with seasoning and instruction.
Perhaps the Flames could do with a really top notch defence coach. I'm not even sure who it is now - Jerrard?
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Yeah Warrener said some interesting things today. Said when paired with a new defender he knew right away if it was going to work because you either clicked or your didn't and time wouldn't change that. Brodie and Wideman never clicked and things never improved but Brodie and Stone formed a decent pairing right away. It's looking like Brodie/Hamonic simply isn't going to work and playing them together for an entire season is likely going to lead to unfulfilled potential of the talent on the blue line. Unfortunately Gulutzan is probably the most stubborn head coach in the NHL so I feel this discussion is going to go long into the season.