Quote:
Originally Posted by Duffalufagus
Brodie is not the #2 d man on this team. I’d say 4-5
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He's our top pairing RD, and nobody else on the team can replace him at this time. Gio's monster year is due in part to his ability to freely pinch because he knows that Brodie has the speed and positioning to cover for him if he makes a bad pinch. Nobody else on the team who plays the right side can do that. Maybe Kylington if you could transplant him onto the right side, but it is rare to find a D who likes to play on the off side. Stone, Hamonic and Andersson are all too slow to play that role. Valimaki is slated to be Gio's eventual replacement, not his partner, and I'm sure they want to continue to develop him on the left side.
I know Brodie does lose his man sometimes and can make some risky passes in the D zone, but he makes the best transitional passes out of anyone on the team, and I don't of know anyone in the league who recovers better in the event of a failed pinch.
Basically, if Brodie is being moved out, it will be for someone like Brodie.