Dennis Wideman sets a new career high in points

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Why do folks view last season as such a disaster. His +\- was terrible yes, but on a terrible team. He still put up 21 points in 46 games, that's over a 40 point season when prorated.

Because of his soul-crushingly bad compete level and defense. He was routinely leaving his partner/goalie out to dry.

He carried that into this season and was summarily benched.

What we've since is just short of a miracle season from him.

I don't know what it is, but if he's seeing a sports psychologist, give that man a raise!

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Because of his soul-crushingly bad compete level and defense. He was routinely leaving his partner/goalie out to dry.

He carried that into this season and was summarily benched.

What we've since is just short of a miracle season from him.

I don't know what it is, but if he's seeing a sports psychologist, give that man a raise!

Part of the blame for last season has to go to Wideman's D partner (O'Brien). One could argue that Wideman was also being left out to dry when playing with him.

Not to take anything away from Wideman this year but playing with Russell has a lot to do with his resurgence. They've found some good chemistry and they really seem to complement each other. Collectively that pair has 85 points this season. Unreal.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by GettinIggyWithIt

Part of the blame for last season has to go to Wideman's D partner (O'Brien). One could argue that Wideman was also being left out to dry when playing with him.

Not to take anything away from Wideman this year but playing with Russell has a lot to do with his resurgence. They've found some good chemistry and they really seem to complement each other. Collectively that pair has 85 points this season. Unreal.

Wideman's weakness is his so-so skating. O'Brien was even slower, making for many issues. Russell's skating complements Wideman's skill set perfectly.

[Phil Russell]

Big Wideman fan and I'll keep saying it--most under-appreciated player on the team. Congrats Mr. Wideman for an outstanding season.

[Mattman]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Definitely did not think the Flames picked up a 50+or Dman and 70+or forward when they signed Wideman and Hudler in the summer of 2012

Feaster is smiling somewhere.

#ThanksJay

[Huntingwhale]

I've been a huge Wideman fan since the day he signed. I know he got a lot of flack (and mostly underserved) but boy oh boy, look at him now. Such an incredible asset on our team and we wouldn't be where we are today without his offence.

The big knock on him when he signed was that he was prone to defensive lapses and giveaways. I think the biggest knock on him is his foot speed. But he's been pretty sound defensively for the most part. His bomb from the point is something we haven't had since Phaneuf. And he pays with such heart. How can you just not root for the guy? Real glad he's on the team.

[handgroen]

[Superfraggle]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Why do folks view last season as such a disaster. His +\- was terrible yes, but on a terrible team. He still put up 21 points in 46 games, that's over a 40 point season when prorated.

Actually, it's a 37 point season if you assume the same pace over 82 games.

[locsofblu]

Dennis frickin Wideman. Congrats.

[MisterJoji]

If he can maintain this level of play and with Gio back next year, our top 4 is one of the best in the west.

[theoforever]

Not enough love and appreciation towards Wideman, who has been great, like most Feaster signings. I guess some must be ashamed for being so nusty towards him.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Wideman was GREAT last season when Giordano went down. I bet he would have continued his impressive season had he not went through those injuries. He never looked the same after coming back from two separate injuries.

This year, it just seems that after being scratched in the second game, he returned to being the player that had stepped it up. Fits Hartley's system really nicely. Great vision (him and Gaudreau seem to work so well together because of it), such an underrated passer, does a good job of getting pucks on net or does those intentional misses onto players sticks, and skates with the puck pretty well. Defensively he does have the occasional lapse, but he is far from 'horrible' in his own zone. I trust Wideman back there. I am sure Lidstrom's screw-ups over his career can provide many hours of enjoyment - just the nature of being a defencemen, especially an offensive defencemen. I think Wideman has been an excellent defencemen period.

[Flames89]

Wasn't there a thread at the beginning of this season asking forum numbers who they think would outperform this year?

[browna]

Congrats on a great year for Wideman. Elements of his game, before and after the Gio injury, of jumping up into the play like Gio and Brodie do, add that extra edge that catches opponents off guards and generates more chances for the Flames on the rush and in the zone. Solid defensively, a bit of an agitator (sure likes to chirp players), and he's rounded out real well.

My disdain for the previous management is well documented, and it takes the player to realize his potential, but don't think it's a total coincidence that those two players that were acquired as UFA's (him and Hudler), are having their best seasons as Flames. This along, with most of the roster that were on last years roster, are outperforming last year by a wide, wide margin; it's the first full year of Brian Burke, and Brian Burke (and his hires) alone calling the shots at the executive level, adding the stability/one less thing to worry about what's going on, behind the scenes.

Wideman could've been had last year's deadline for a decent draft pick or a roster player, even in the summer. A fair number of proposals on here as well, wanting him shipped out....but with the team finally out of a state of "uncertainty" off the ice for the first time since 2010 (at least), the whole team has put on a truly remarkable display of positivity, and Wideman is a perfect example of that; I don't think I'd ever saw him smile before this year.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by browna

Congrats on a great year for Wideman. Elements of his game, before and after the Gio injury, of jumping up into the play like Gio and Brodie do, add that extra edge that catches opponents off guards and generates more chances for the Flames on the rush and in the zone. Solid defensively, a bit of an agitator (sure likes to chirp players), and he's rounded out real well.

My disdain for the previous management is well documented, and it takes the player to realize his potential, but don't think it's a total coincidence that those two players that were acquired as UFA's (him and Hudler), are having their best seasons as Flames. This along, with most of the roster that were on last years roster, are outperforming last year by a wide, wide margin; it's the first full year of Brian Burke, and Brian Burke (and his hires) alone calling the shots at the executive level, adding the stability/one less thing to worry about what's going on, behind the scenes.

Wideman could've been had last year's deadline for a decent draft pick or a roster player, even in the summer. A fair number of proposals on here as well, wanting him shipped out....but with the team finally out of a state of "uncertainty" off the ice for the first time since 2010 (at least), the whole team has put on a truly remarkable display of positivity, and Wideman is a perfect example of that; I don't think I'd ever saw him smile before this year.

Great post, echoes many of my thoughts.

I'm one of those posters who was looking to drop Wideman.

He has been (obviously) outstanding this year and I think might be the single biggest reason the team didn't fall off after losing Giordano.

Those first couple of games where he played 30+ minutes and was steady eddy out there for them were crucial minutes for Calgary in hindsight. It could have been easy to pack it in, for both the team and for Wideman which is what I felt he'd done last year.

I don't know if he's ever played at this level before, I wonder if he'd tell you the same thing.

That's the story of the whole team though this year. Forget Edmonton, there's something (legitimately) special going on in Calgary.

[theoforever]

My take on Wideman last year was that he was very good early on, but after he got hurt he was never the same.

It was kind of like Camy, who after getting his bell rang probably came back too early and looked lost out there.

[CroFlames]

Congrats to Wides on the achievement. 50 pts is a huge accomplishment even for a forward.

Sometimes I feel like I was the only one who was happy with the signing when it happened. Everyone kept claiming it was overpayment, but I believed then and I believe now it was a good signing.

I'm extremely happy with how our lineup is shaping up. My wishlist for next year or the year after is to trade for a top-end goalie, and upgrade our bottom pair. I think our forward's corp will round out nicely with all the young talent coming up thru the ranks as well as the '15 & '16 drafts that are upcoming.

Good times