Who is more valuable to the flames?

[Huntingwhale]

Brodie. We have the offensive talent to make up for Johnny being out. But look at the teams' record without Brodie. That's a massive gap to fill. I also take into account Brodie's team-friendly contract. 4.65 for one of the best young defenceman in the game who is a legit #1 and getting better ever year. That's phenomenal value. His contract allows for Treliving to have more wiggle room with the lineup. And not a single Flames' fan would complain if he was getting paid 7+mil. But 4.65 we have him for. Let that sink in.

I also consider that if the Flames could only choose 1 that it's better to build around a defenceman then a winger. Isn't that what everyone always says? You can't build around a winger? I personally think that's garbage, but that has always seemed to be the universal consensus on CP and the rest of the hockey world. I'm honestly surprised at the polls results.

If we have to choose only 1, I take the #1 D every single time.

[Machiavelli]

Succinctly, everyone needs the D

[MoreDrank]

This thread is asking two different questions: "Who is more valuable to the Flames?" and "Who is the Flames best player?"

Gaudreau is a g-damn puck wizard that makes watching the Flames worth it win or lose. hard to argue he's not the Flames best and most dynamic player. This summer, he's going to get paid a lot of money.

But Brodie's sweetheart contract is an extremely valuable asset in the big team picture. A lot of GMs in the league, especially on cap teams would love to have a player as good as Brodie making that kind of cash/term.

Glad the Flames don't have to choose.

[Jore]

I think Brodie is more valuable. He's the backbone of this team. Without his retrievals and breakouts, the forwards would not have the puck and we wouldn't really have a transition game

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Succinctly, everyone needs the D

lol, sick euphemism bro

your euphemisms are outta control

[Eric]

Picked Brodie just to make the poll closer to 50/50. Couldn't make an honest decision...

[Enoch Root]

Pretty safe bet this is the first time ever that a fanbase has debated on their most valuable players and both were 4th rounders.

(Though Lidstrom and Datsyuk say hi)

[Geeoff]

Brodie is a great d-man but I feel like there are more replacement options for Brodie than there are for Gaudreau. There are probably at least 20 d-men close to or above Brodie, while Gaudreau is a top 10 offensive player in the league.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Brodie. Flames played like crap while he was out, played fine while Johnny was out.

Those three mean nothing games that Johnny missed is your determining factor for your answer?

[N-E-B]

Between those two? Gaudreau.

But I believe Monahan is more important than both. Having a legitimate #1 Centre is huge.

I'm glad we have all 3 of them.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I think Brodie is the one that's more important. When he was out of the lineup, Flames record was abysmal.

[flamesforcup]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Between those two? Gaudreau.

But I believe Monahan is more important than both. Having a legitimate #1 Centre is huge.

I'm glad we have all 3 of them.

I would say monahans 4th after brodie gio and gaudreau

[Yrebmi]

I know I am in the vast minority but my vote goes to non poll option Sean Monahan.
J.H. is great to watch and sells tickets, but can only have so much defensive game at his stature. T.J is great defensively obviously, but I feel slightly overrated by us.
All three are young and going to get better.

Edit - Just saw N-E-B post. I concur

[BigErnSalute_16]

I picked Gaudreau, but it was literally only so I could see the poll results. I couldn't choose.

[GioforPM]

I see them as roughly equivalent (and maybe Gaudreau has the edge in skill compared to peers at his position). But Brodie plays IMO a bigger role on the team, a more important position and is way more cap friendly going forward.

[Bingo]

I don't think it's even close ... Brodie in a landslide.

Offensively you have Gaudreau easily, but so much goes on away from the offensive net with Brodie and you can't win without that type of player.

He's certainly involved in the offense, but shutting down the opposition, killing penalties, leading the transition.

Gaudreau would spend another 5 minutes a night in his own zone without Brodie on the team.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I don't think it's even close ... Brodie in a landslide.

Offensively you have Gaudreau easily, but so much goes on away from the offensive net with Brodie and you can't win without that type of player.

He's certainly involved in the offense, but shutting down the opposition, killing penalties, leading the transition.

Gaudreau would spend another 5 minutes a night in his own zone without Brodie on the team.

Maybe, but one set of data makes me lean to Gaudreau:

Gaudreau at home had 56pts in 39 home games and the flames were 21-16-4

Gaudreau on the road had 22pts in 39 road games and the flames went 14-24-3.

Nobody's points fluctuated as much as Gaudreau's were. When he's effective, the flames win. When he's not, the flames lose.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Maybe, but one set of data makes me lean to Gaudreau:

Gaudreau at home had 56pts in 39 home games and the flames were 21-16-4

Gaudreau on the road had 22pts in 39 road games and the flames went 14-24-3.

Nobody's points fluctuated as much as Gaudreau's were. When he's effective, the flames win. When he's not, the flames lose.

I get what you are trying to say, but it also means that Gaudreau is less consistent and easier to play against if you can match against him.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I get what you are trying to say, but it also means that Gaudreau is less consistent and easier to play against if you can match against him.

And thereby the flames are easy to play against when they get their match ups. As Gaudreau goes, so go the flames

[burn_this_city]

Johnny is a game breaker, there's maybe 15-20 of those players in the league. Brodie is a good defenseman but he's not going to win games solely on his own.