Is Brodie the best Skater in the League? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

ricardodw · 05-06-2015, 09:50 AM

Never an Oiler fan but could appreciate the skating skill of Paul Coffey.

Right now it seem that Brodie is doing a very good Coffey imitation.

As the rest of the league has really improved their skating skills since Coffey's playing days Brodie might be the best skater ever.

GioforPM · 05-06-2015, 09:53 AM

What's "best"? He's not the fastest.

CroFlames · 05-06-2015, 09:54 AM

Brodie has been taking lots of flak on this site over the past few games, but for my money he has been the BEST Calgary Flame in the playoffs.

He does make mistakes, yes, but every d-man does. Dmen's mistakes are magnified a lot more than a forwards mistakes are. Gio has made mistakes this year that have directly led to goals. Not to mention he is playing so many of the toughest minutes. Hartley rests him during the PP since he is basically out during the entire rest of the game.

But he does so many things right, including his skating ability. His breakouts, his neutral zone play, his offensive capabilities are just great. His play along the boards is right up there with the best.

If we are picking Conn Smythe candidates now, he is mine.

Gauhudahan · 05-06-2015, 09:58 AM

Brodie is a great skater, in particular over the playoffs what has impressed me is that numerous times I have seen him recover an edge when clipped by a stick etc and he quickly regains stride and speed while retaining possession of the puck. THat said I think the rose colored glasses may be on by calling "the best" I would say he is potentially amongst the elite skates in the league though.

squiggs96 · 05-06-2015, 09:59 AM

Are we ignoring when he skated into Getzlaf to cough up the puck and let Anaheim score last night, instead of banking the puck off the boards and out of the zone?

bob-loblaw · 05-06-2015, 10:01 AM

I think he's one of the best. He doesn't need a lot of strides to get going and looks very smooth which reminds a lot of Coffey. A lot of times he winds up leading the rush and winds up getting back into position by just swinging behind the net.

The one thing that Coffey did though was get behind the defence and actually get a great scoring opportunity and Brodie is inconsistent with that. Then again, defencemen today are way better skaters than in Coffey's days so most don't look like pylons.

BigRed · 05-06-2015, 10:10 AM

Brodie isn't the flat our fastest -- thohgh he's plenty fast -- but he's extremely agile. That dance he did on the blueline last night in the 3rd that kept the puck in until Perry had to tackle him to get it out is a great example.

CroFlames · 05-06-2015, 10:11 AM

Best beard too.

Coach · 05-06-2015, 10:14 AM

One of the best for defensemen for sure.

I also think Russell has surprisingly great skating ability.

Enoch Root · 05-06-2015, 10:17 AM

He isn't the fastest, but he sure is effortless. And that is a great quality to have if you want to be a massive minute muncher like Niedermayer.

As for the people on this site giving him flack, they just don't understand the position of defense IMO. The Ducks gameplan is simple: get everyone all over Brodie all the time.

When that's the case, of course he is going to get beat sometimes and cough up the puck sometimes.

The way to judge a defenseman in that scenario is to ask yourself: if it was a different player, would they cough it up more or less?

Brodie has been absolutely fantastic in these playoffs IMO. With no Giordano, the other teams are gearing in on him and he is more than handling it.

Gallick · 05-06-2015, 10:17 AM

Brodie is a fantastic skater and showed it last night with a number of great rushes, but I don't think he is as good as guys like Doughty or Subban at it.

AcGold · 05-06-2015, 10:19 AM

Giordano is better, his acceleration is unreal. Gio took a slapshot, the deflection turned into a break away and Gio caught the guy before he reached the blue line. Brodie is great, Gio is better. Yeah fluidity and smoothness are great but acceleration is way more important

CroFlames · 05-06-2015, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gallick

Brodie is a fantastic skater and showed it last night with a number of great rushes, but I don't think he is as good as guys like Doughty or Subban at it.

Sometimes judging a skating ability is skewed by a guy's style of skating. So I may be wrong, but I think Doughty is 10x the skater Subban is, although they are both elite defencemen. Doughty is silky smooth. Like Bouwmeester, just not pillowy soft like him.

Wolf is probably not as bad a skater as I think he is, but man he has an ugly skating style.

BigBrodieFan · 05-06-2015, 10:28 AM

Since we're talking about it and all...lol... thought I would throw in a couple of articles:

http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2015/...RJB9s.facebook

And this from Paul Coffey:

http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2015/...o-loosen-reins

BigRed · 05-06-2015, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

As for the people on this site giving him flack, they just don't understand the position of defense IMO. The Ducks gameplan is simple: get everyone all over Brodie all the time.

So true. He's constantly being manhandled, and still plays almost half the game. Amazing performance.

codynw · 05-06-2015, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcGold

Giordano is better, his acceleration is unreal. Gio took a slapshot, the deflection turned into a break away and Gio caught the guy before he reached the blue line. Brodie is great, Gio is better. Yeah fluidity and smoothness are great but acceleration is way more important

You are wrong.

The Big Chill · 05-06-2015, 10:35 AM

Best in the league? That is probably a stretch, but the guy is a damn good hockey player. I have so much confidence in his game. When he made that mistake last night, I had no doubts in my mind that he would do something to affect the game in a positive way before it was over. I'm thrilled he is a Flame for at least the next few years. Plus, he has a killer beard.

AcGold · 05-06-2015, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codynw

You are wrong.

Great explanation, well thought out, A for effort

Erick Estrada · 05-06-2015, 10:40 AM

He's one of the best skaters but I don't know about the best. He is very fluid and smooth with no wasted motions but there are faster top end skaters and skaters with better acceleration. He's in the Bouwmeester, Brian Campbell group of very natural, smooth striders.

codynw · 05-06-2015, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcGold

Great explanation, well thought out, A for effort

There's not really much to explain. Your main point was that Giordano is faster and I don't even think that is true. Brodie is just a better skater than Giordano. Not that Giordano isn't good, but Brodie is among the best in the league.