Who was the most underrated Flame of Round 1?

[sureLoss]

Not talking about the guys who got press or noticed by the main stream media, but the guy who wasn't expected to be a big piece but played solid in the series against the Canucks, so guys like the top line, top 3 on defence, Bennett and Ferland are not part of the poll.

For me it was Engelland. Was going to say Stajan, but he got a lot of attention on the series clinching goal. Jones is a solid pick too, but I am just impressed with Engelland.

Would be remiss to say I would want Engelland as a permanent fixture in the top 4, but the way he has stepped up with the Giordano injury and went on to play the big minutes is quite impressive for a guy who was considered an overpaid goon/depth stay at home defenceman on July 1.

[dammage79]

I vote Bollig, his goal in game 3 was much needed at the time. Stajan got a fair bit of recognition and Engelland has been riding the favorite train for a while.

[hockey.modern]

As much hate as he gets, definitely Backlund.

[GoJetsGo]

David Jones was surprisingly good as well.

[N-E-B]

Jooris. Thought he brought energy every shift but was understandably overshadowed by Ferland.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Based on the criteria, going to say Stajan. 61% faceoffs and +5 while being tasked with shutting down the Sedin line.


But if we're going simply underrated, my answer is Brodie. Doesn't matter how much media attention he gets, it wont be enough.

Edit: Okay, Stajan wasn't included. Going to go with his linemate Jones then.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Based on the criteria, going to say Stajan. 61% faceoffs and +5 while being tasked with shutting down the Sedin line.


But if we're going simply underrated, my answer is Brodie. Doesn't matter how much media attention he gets, it wont be enough.

Edit: Okay, Stajan wasn't included. Going to go with his linemate Jones then.

I was just about to say the same thing. Him and Ferland have been great!

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Backlund has probably been the biggest contributor of the guys mentioned, but i think Engelland has done it with the least fan fare.

[GoJetsGo]

One of the top under-rated moments of the first round was Engellend telling the Canucks he'd fight five of them at once after owning two of them at the same time the game prior.

[CaptainYooh]

Tough poll. The whole team was somewhat underrated, yet everyone has contributed well in Round 1.

I voted Ramo even though my first reaction was Jones. Let's face it, if it wasn't for Ramo, we would have lost Game 6 and then, chances of winning Game 7 in Vancouver after that would have been quite a bit lower than at home. Ramo came out strong and did his job under tremendous pressure.

[RoughRiderRowdy]

Schlemko quietly had a great series. Always seems to make a great first pass out of his own end, and makes good decisions with the puck. Great for a waiver depth pickup

[Phanuthier]

I voted Colbourne, though it was a toss up with Jones. I think there were really 2 things that really made us successful:

1. Our D, their conditioning and ability to play big minutes. Russell/Wideman and Brodie/Engelland get tons of credit so I dont think are underrated.

2. Our forcheckers that didnt allow their D to jump into the play and create odd man rushes, and they created tons of turnover. In particular, it was Ferland, Colbourne and Jones that were the best. Backlund was good too. Obviously Ferland and Backlund get lots of credit, so therefore I went with Cobourne and Jones.

[RoughRiderRowdy]

On another note, Wotherspoon has played very little, but the time he was out there was very disappointed with his play for being a highly touted 2nd round pick

[Textcritic]

David Jones.

When Feaster traded Alex Tanguay the deal was widely panned on this site, and for a long time Jones was a popular whipping boy as a result.

He has been dynamite this season. He was stellar in the first round. If the Stajan, Jones, Ferland line is now the #2 line (I'm not sure it is—at times it felt as though the Backlund, Colborne, Bennett line was the #2), then it is fair to say that while all three players are instrumental to making it work, Jones is the one who I believe is driving the offense.

[calgarywinning]

I think the Stajan, Jones, Ferland line is the versatile throw a wrench in the mix line. They just get out there and grind and mix it up to produce results.

Bob Hartley has been effective at using Stajan in many roles which are diminutive but complimentary to his skill set. Very effective PP killer.

[oilboimcdavid]

I voted Englland, he was a rock back there and when he fought Dorset and Hamhuis, that was a pivotal moment in the series that shifted the series in the Flames favour as they went on to win 3 straight to defeat the nucks.

[browna]

Jones with honorable mention, but Engelland all the way. His take-on-all-comers fight turned the loss on the ice into a rallying point for game 3.

Blocks shots, solid defense, and 25 minutes in Game 6...as solid as can be and required minutes considering without Smid and Diaz, Hartley's 6th defenseman is trusted with only 3 minutes last night.

Been that way since Gio has gone down...someone had to step up, and while the top 3 of Brodie, Wideman and Russel all did, the third crew of Diaz, Schlemko and more regularly Engelland, have stepped it up huge.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Great list. Jones and Engelland have really stepped up for us in the last month or so. I went with Colborne though, as I felt like his play in the last 6 games somewhat redeemed his less-than-ideal play for most of the season.

[debil]

Jooris, guy was absolute beast defenzively and very hard working guy.

[CGY12]

Going with David Jones as well. If he doesn't step up and score that goal to tie it in the 3rd in Game 1 who knows where the series could have gone. That goal seemed to loosen up their collars.

They gained a lot of confidence from winning game 1, I think that was huge considering how many rookies are on the team, crucial to get off to a good start.

He skates hard and is tenacious on the forecheck, really thought he played great all series.