I said this before when Wideman was signed, he's a guy that can help a team make the playoffs with his offensive contributions and PP prowess. The problem is that he isn't a guy you can ultimately win with, because he is a defensive liability in the playoffs. This isn't a problem for the Flames right now, but given how much Wideman makes, it is a problem for any playoff team. So as much as some of posters here are happy with Wideman's performance, let's not go against Wideman's track record here. The guy is a proven offensive producer. He's been able to produce offensively for many years and for different teams. He has also had trouble getting off the bench come playoff time because he is too much of a defensive liability. Let's not get carried away and start calling Wideman some sort of ideal bottom pairing defenseman on a true contender because that's simply unrealistic.
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Originally Posted by Sylvanfan
To me Wideman is very similar to Adrian Aucoin. A guy with a big shot who can score some goals, and soak up a few minutes. If you have to put him on your top pairing he will get in trouble.
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I personally think that if he was a 23 year old guy that the Flames drafted in the 5th round making an entry level salary, many of his detractors would be falling over themselves about how much of a draft steel he was.
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Aucoin in his Islanders days was a very good defenseman, much better than Wideman ever was and ever will be. Old age and a faster game just made Aucoin a bit too slow to be great defensively.
A 5th round pick that turns into a top 4 defenseman is a steal. A 23 year old defenseman has hope of improving defensively. Making entry level salary is a lot different than being paid like a 1st pairing defenseman. Not sure what the point is.
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Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814
He isn't a defensive liability, he's just not a top pairing guy. Playing him against top lines is a mistake, but it's not his job. He's supposed to be a second pairing D that scores 40 points a year.
I stand by Wideman being a 3rd pairing guy on a true contender, however. I don't know too many third and fourth lines in the NHL that could truly make nights miserable for he and Russell - both skate too well.
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You can't always get away from matchups. That's why minutes matter more than whether a player is utilized on the top pairing. Just because a defenseman is being played on the top pairing doesn't make him a 1st pairing defenseman. Sometimes, it's just about chemistry.
True contenders would not have Wideman as a 3rd pairing guy unless there is no salary cap.