[Signing] Brodie signs with the Leafs (4yrs, $5m AAV)

[bluejays]

I don't think he was a huge step. He may be if all goes well, what Barrie was supposed to be, but I can't imagine his offence improving that dramatically if they want him to be defensively responsible. For the playoffs the Leafs also have grinding issues for scoring goals which hasn't been fully addressed yet. We'll see but I don't see any of the Leafs moves huge leaps ahead. If they were to trade Nylander for a bigger body scorer, they're in a good position, but until that happens, they're more or less the same team as last season (swapping Kapanen for Simmonds, which doesn't address playoff scoring issues).

[blender]

Originally Posted by Corral

No it won’t. Odd thing about Alberta.... people say they love it here ... until they leave and never look back.

People leave all places and never look back.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by TheSquatch

I swore at Brodie's gaffs like we all did, but I also saw him control McDavid in a way that I'm not sure any other defender in the league has done, so for that alone, I think we'll miss him badly.

I'm fine with Gio/Anderssen as a top pair, but that's not two elite skaters, it's just good solid D-men.

What happens now with the rest of the slotting will be interesting. I find it odd that a team which had to slot in 2 last-second pick-ups in Gustaffson and Forbort wouldn't have been REALLY keen to keep Brodie.

Hopefully something else is in the works.

Yeah we’re seeing the reality that at the end of the year, 5 of the top 8 on D were UFA.

Even if you are REALLY banking on Kylington and Valimaki, there’s still a couple of holes.

[bluejays]

Fully agree. Markstrom is a great addition to shore up the goaltending but there are two glaring holes - top end scorer and top end dman on the Flames.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Corral

TJ was probably going to the leafs no matter what. Growing up in Ontario and all. Getting 20 million to play for the leafs.... the flames could have offered double and I’m not sure he would have stayed.

Quite likely that he will be the next ‘former flame’ to lift the cup in a different uniform. The leafs just need defence and Brodie is a huge step forward for them

Lol

[Calgary4LIfe]

One of the things I hate most about this...


I am going to have to watch more Leafs games now. I hate the Leafs. I still hope that team does squat forever, but I do hope that Brodie shines there.


On the other hand, I really do enjoy watching Brodie play - I think he is so dynamic and fun to watch - and the way that we keep getting Leafs games and news jammed down our throats will at least make it easier for me to continue watching him.



F.U. Leafs!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Corral

TJ was probably going to the leafs no matter what. Growing up in Ontario and all. Getting 20 million to play for the leafs.... the flames could have offered double and I’m not sure he would have stayed.

Quite likely that he will be the next ‘former flame’ to lift the cup in a different uniform. The leafs just need defence and Brodie is a huge step forward for them

Why is “former flames” in quotes. Is he not one?

[topfiverecords]

Definitely a big loss for the team but I’m feeling good about it for TJ. With his wife’s health, his health, and a new kid, back being close to his and his wife’s family in Ontario will be great for them.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Definitely a big loss for the team but I’m feeling good about it for TJ. With his wife’s health, his health, and a new kid, back being close to his and his wife’s family in Ontario will be great for them.

That’s another thing to like about Brodie. He had all the reasons not to come back in the bubble. Pending UFA, eyes looking toward Toronto, health issues, young family....

And he came in and competed super hard and IMO was the Flames best rearguard.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by TheSquatch

I swore at Brodie's gaffs like we all did, but I also saw him control McDavid in a way that I'm not sure any other defender in the league has done, so for that alone, I think we'll miss him badly.

I'm fine with Gio/Anderssen as a top pair, but that's not two elite skaters, it's just good solid D-men.

What happens now with the rest of the slotting will be interesting. I find it odd that a team which had to slot in 2 last-second pick-ups in Gustaffson and Forbort wouldn't have been REALLY keen to keep Brodie.

Hopefully something else is in the works.

Agree with this. This defence looks different without Brodie and not in a good way. They lost their best skater. Without knowing all the intimate details I would have been happy with him signing that same deal with the flames.

With Valimaki coming in to add to Gio, Rasmus and Hanifin, I suppose they can cobble the rest of the D together. That’s a big bet on Valimaki though. That D core still looks pretty good, but it’s pretty precarious if someone goes down to injury.

Makes me think they’re fearing up to make a push for a play-driving forward in the top six. Honestly with the goalie situation sorted I feel that’s almost the last piece to actually make them a legitimate threat.

Brodie was a fantastic Flame and one of my favourites. His poor play at times I attribute mostly to idiot coaches trying to play him on the left side. Good luck to him on the Leafs and I will think of him with fondness.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by heep223

Agree with this. This defence looks different without Brodie and not in a good way. They lost their best skater. Without knowing all the intimate details I would have been happy with him signing that same deal with the flames.

With Valimaki coming in to add to Gio, Rasmus and Hanifin, I suppose they can cobble the rest of the D together. That’s a big bet on Valimaki though. That D core still looks pretty good, but it’s pretty precarious if someone goes down to injury.

Makes me think they’re fearing up to make a push for a play-driving forward in the top six. Honestly with the goalie situation sorted I feel that’s almost the last piece to actually make them a legitimate threat.

Brodie was a fantastic Flame and one of my favourites. His poor play at times I attribute mostly to idiot coaches trying to play him on the left side. Good luck to him on the Leafs and I will think of him with fondness.

Not sure what you mean by best skater, but in the last couple years, I’d say Hanifin and Kylington have better wheels.

Going forward, filling the hole depends on what you want the makeup of that pairing to be. You don’t have to look for Brodie’s skill set. Maybe you go more defensive and use a Tanev or Vatanen. Or maybe you pair Rasmus and Gio for defensive matchups and look at a Barrie-Hanifin pairing.

Unless you can work a magic deal for Pietrangelo of course.

[GullFoss]

Im a bit surprised the Flames didn't want him or couldn't entice him to stay at a similar contract. $5m for 4-years seems reasonable to me. He will be missed.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Not sure what you mean by best skater, but in the last couple years, I’d say Hanifin and Kylington have better wheels.

Going forward, filling the hole depends on what you want the makeup of that pairing to be. You don’t have to look for Brodie’s skill set. Maybe you go more defensive and use a Tanev or Vatanen. Or maybe you pair Rasmus and Gio for defensive matchups and look at a Barrie-Hanifin pairing.

Unless you can work a magic deal for Pietrangelo of course.

I guess what I mean by best skater is best skater

I wasn’t thinking of Kylington. Brodie is a better skater than Hanifin IMO. Brodie had the ability to skate out of the zone in a variety of scenarios, and in transition. I don’t put Hanifin in that same category.

I think it’s a big loss. He did have his warts tho...including having an absolute muffin of a shot

[Jiri Hrdina]

The first time I watched Brodie was at the prospect tournament in Camrose - and he looked like a player. At that time, he was one of the few prospects that was worth watching in the system. That seems like a very long time ago. I'm happy that he's moving on and got a contract he deserves in the place he wants to be. Quality person and a great Flame.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by heep223

I guess what I mean by best skater is best skater

I wasn’t thinking of Kylington. Brodie is a better skater than Hanifin IMO. Brodie had the ability to skate out of the zone in a variety of scenarios, and in transition. I don’t put Hanifin in that same category.

I think it’s a big loss. He did have his warts tho...including having an absolute muffin of a shot

Hanifin is a better skater than Kylington IMO. Much better than Brodie, who I saw lose a whole lot more races in the last two years than he used to.

ETA: Hanifin needs a lot of improvement on positioning though.

And my question about skater was because I wasn’t;t sure you just meant “best non-goalie”

[Red]

Originally Posted by heep223

I guess what I mean by best skater is best skater

I wasn’t thinking of Kylington. Brodie is a better skater than Hanifin IMO. Brodie had the ability to skate out of the zone in a variety of scenarios, and in transition. I don’t put Hanifin in that same category.

I think it’s a big loss. He did have his warts tho...including having an absolute muffin of a shot

Brodie skates like Scott Niedermayer. Amazing skater. Not great at defending, but he can move like no other.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Hanifin is a better skater than Kylington IMO. Much better than Brodie, who I saw lose a whole lot more races in the last two years than he used to.

ETA: Hanifin needs a lot of improvement on positioning though.

And my question about skater was because I wasn’t;t sure you just meant “best non-goalie”

Oh gotcha, no I meant literally the best skating D-man.

[Coach]

Man. I would have given Brodie another year or two at that price.

Disappointed he’s gone. I think some people don’t realize how much we need him. Barrie doesn’t compare IMO.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by Coach

Man. I would have given Brodie another year or two at that price.

Disappointed he’s gone. I think some people don’t realize how much we need him. Barrie doesn’t compare IMO.

I don't think the Flames will get Barrie after just signing Tanev.

[81MC]

#### sakes.