I have always looked at Brodie as part of the this core. I still think he is the best puck-mover on the Flames, and I think he is the most defensively sound defencemen on the Flames. Even last year's playoffs against Colorado, I thought Brodie was the only defencemen to not look bad, and actually covered MacKinnon fairly well, all things considered.
I think he will be a lot tougher to replace than I think people like to think. Andersson is good and only getting better, but Hanifin and Andersson is a great pairing that I think should stay together. Giordano and Brodie is an absolutely elite pairing, and as Giordano ages and Brodie eventually starts to slow down, they can move down to the 2nd pairing for a while, or at that point the Flames can make a move.
Brodie helps the Flames win now, and while looking at this team, win now is probably where the window is at. I don't know how the Flames will make it work if they end up adding Hall and not lose Gaudreau, but boy would that be such a dangerous and deep team. I am going to cling to all hope that at the very least, Brodie is re-signed. He is one of the most important cogs on this team.
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