Ok here are some additional thoughts and numbers that I had put together. I chose 7 dmen for shortlisting- you can argue if I picked the right seven- possibly I should have taken Jaybo over Dougie, but I don't think that would change much. I decided to look at the following parameters (realizing all of them have limits due to different eras, teams they played on etc) which are (all of these are AS A FLAME- I recognize that many of these guys - including HOFer Housley, Sarge, Phaneuf, Macoun down the list had distinguished 1000 game careers) games played, points, plus/minus, playoff games played, allstar team selections and Norris voting. In each instance if the number is bold they are the leader in that category. players listed in order of Flames games played
TJ Brodie 634 /266/ 14/ 20 /0/ 1 (peak 18th)
A current player who gets a bit of a bad rap sometimes he has been a top 4 d at worst for a long time here and is climbing way up the Flames games played list- its not his fault we've needed to suffer watching him try and be Al MacInnis on the PP. Not a huge name or reputation league wide, but a good player for sure
Jamie Macoun 586/ 246/ 93/ 84/ 0/ 1 (peak 10th)
Ok - some people who saw both play are going to call me nuts but there is actually a lot similar between Brodie and Macoun. Both have tenure. Both were "Robin" to Macinnis/Giordano's "Batman" . Macoun all time leader of this group in playoff games (and overall games) and 2nd in plus minus. Like Brodie garnered Norris votes in one single season. On the taxi squad of the 1991 Canada cup team. Both Brodie and Macoun are solid top 4s more famous in Calgary than elsewhere and did lots of things well. I would have both in the mix for #7
Paul Reinhart 438/ 398/ 17/ 76/ 0 / 1(7)
Third player in a row to have registered a single season of Norris voting. This guy came on the scene out of the famous 79 draft and was an original Calgary Flame, already making the best on best Canada cup team by 1981 (Paul Reinhart spoiler- he only played two games due to injury), is the highest scorer (by over 100 points) of the names remaining and has been pointed out is 2nd all time in Flames playoff scoring (yes ahead of Fleury, Nieuwendyk, Mullen, Lanny, Nilsson, Suter, Iginla, Otto, Roberts etc etc). ok a bit of a rover- he could drive you nuts, and injuries took a toll. Flames (as they would go on to do with Mullen and many others in years to come) gave up on him for too little too soon, and he almost sunk them in 89. He gets my vote here
Dion Phaneuf 378/ 228/ 19/ 25/ 1 (1st team allstar)/ 4 (2nd)
Ok Dion. he doesn't need an explanation. everyone knows him. If we are looking for peak performance he's likely your guy. he was a first team allstar and (reputation or not) had 4 seasons with Norris votes, peaking at 2nd. it ended poorly we know that. has to be in the mix for the 7th
Phil Housley 328/ 238/ 2/ 7/ 0/ 2(10)
he's generating some discussion. He is a HOFer. he is a bit polarizing, was a good player (at least first time through, maybe both times) even if an underwhelming return for MacInnis. his first tenure- maybe I'm not giving him enough credit- was a time where I was out of town and not following the Flames daily- in the shortened season he and Fleury put up numbers. By his 2nd go round I was here and I felt I was watching a guy (admittedly on a sad sack team) going through the paces. I'm not voting for him as I don't think I see him standing out as best in any regard. Twice received Norris votes
Dougie Hamilton 245 137 -2 4 0 2 (9)
not much to say here . we all know Dougie. will point out 2 seasons as a Flame he received Norris votes peaking at 9th
Brad McCrimmon 231 83 109 37 1 (2nd team) 2 (4th)
Ok Sarge. short tenure (a la Gilmour) but lets review. He was a Flame for 3 seasons. where did they finish in the league those 3 seasons? 1st. 1st. 2nd. and a cup. a 2nd team allstar (along with his young protegee Suter) his first year here, follows that up with a top 6 Norris voting the next year. only he and Dion amongst the remaining were year end allstars as Flames and again only Dion exceeded him in the Norris table. while its a stat that has its issues, lets remind ourselves Sarge played tough minutes. Look ...at...that..plus/minus.. I'm voting for him next
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