The Impact/loss of T.J. Brodie

[bluck]

With the horrible start this year, I can't help but wonder about how much this team is really missing TJ Brodie.

The defense core looks absolutely lost right now. Hamilton looks as if it's his first year in league, Gio had a great game against Detroit but is playing no where near his potential and Wideman/Russell were spending the majority of their shifts in their own end as usual before being split up.

All of this leads me to believe that the Flames are really missing Brodie and the impact he brings. I feel when he gets paired back up with Gio, this team will start to turn the corner. I know a lot of the pathetic results we have had so far may have still happened with Brodie in the lineup, but one does have to wonder what our record would look like if he was on the roster opening night.

Thoughts?

[FBI]

Get Brodie back now!!!!

[codynw]

Brodie will definitely teach everyone not named Gaudreau how to play hockey consistently and the season will be saved.

[vicarious]

He will have a very positive impact, depending on how long it takes for him to get into mid-season form but he's just one guy, not a saviour.
If he had been on the opening night roster we still would have lost those games but maybe not by as much.
Hamilton and Russel have team worst +/- and need to spend a game or two in the press box. Brodie's return would make that easier to do.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by bluck

All of this leads me to believe that the Flames are really missing Brodie and the impact he brings.

Your powers of observation are top notch.

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by vicarious

he's just one guy, not a saviour.

You're telling me the "J" doesn't stand for Jesus?

[Vinny01]

The problems with this team are far beyond missing Brodie but he has been a huge loss none the less

[CroFlames]

I think he'll have a big impact. Obviously it's very concerning how bad the Flames are right now without him, but his return can't come soon enough.

I think he brings some stability to the D. Once the D-corps settles down and starts playing smarter, other aspects will begin to fall into place. Is the season lost? It could be. But I truly believe by Christmas time the Flames will be playing like they did last year and TJ will be a big reason for that.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

You're telling me the "J" doesn't stand for Jesus?

"TJ": They are clearly initials for THE Jesus.

[vicarious]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

"TJ": They are clearly initials for THE Jesus.

If a saviour is what you want... I hear Jamie Lundmark might be available

[Street Pharmacist]

Hoping a good #2D turns a bottom defensive and offensive roster into anything resembling a playoff team screams to me of fans hoping there's a simple fix here. To me, the fix is simple: time and patience.

This team has likely missed the playoffs because of terrible fragile confidence and bad luck. You can say that's pessimistic and point to the 8 game losing streak. My counter to that is: are you suggesting they'll turn out around and have no losing streaks in the next 72 games? It's over. Patience will show the skill come back and have them finish around the 10th spot mark and look for a good draft and a better start next year

[TSXCman]

Brodie will help... but the team just needs to get it together with or without him.

Gio is getting his play back: HUGE D plays/blocks, nice blue line wrist shots, etc.

Russell is a great defensive D man, no need to move him or anything silly (trade rumors.... so dumb).

Wideman is playing well.

Hamilton needs a bit of sheltered minutes before he gets his act together, I think.


It's a team thing... I have the patience to ride it out. So you guys keep selling me your season tickets at cost/less if it's too hard to deal with!

[Weitz]

1 guy won't turn a team around. It's on the players that are playing.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

Russell is a great defensive D man, no need to move him or anything silly (trade rumors.... so dumb).

[TSXCman]

Originally Posted by codynw

[codynw]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

There's more to defence than blocking shots.

Russell is simply not good defensively.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

"TJ": They are clearly initials for THE Jesus.

Brodie out of the line-up is a huge blow (maybe even more-so than Gio due to his defensive abilities).

But if one player out makes the Flames look this terrible, they are no playoff team.

[Hackey]

Flames are definitely missing Brodie but to think his absence in the line up is the reason for our terrible start is definitely reaching. We lost Giordano last year and did just fine.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Flames are definitely missing Brodie but to think his absence in the line up is the reason for our terrible start is definitely reaching. We lost Giordano last year and did just fine.

Because of this, many people are (incorrectly) jumping to the conclusion that Brodie >>>>> Giordano.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by codynw

Because of this, many people are (incorrectly) jumping to the conclusion that Brodie >>>>> Giordano.

I'm not saying that, but I do think that Brodie was better at executing the Flames system than Gio is.

His breakout passes are simply amazing and always connect.

His mobility is better than Gio which allows him to pinch more often without getting caught out. Gio has already been exposed several times this season and I don't think he's pinching much anymore as a result.

His conditioning is top 10 in the league. He's just as quick to end the game as he was at the start. The guy skates more miles than anyone else on the ice and never looks out of breath.

That said, I still don't think adding Brodie to the line-up will make this a playoff team. I just hope it turns into a watchable team.