Who was the most underrated Flame of Round 1?

[azzarish]

Engelland. Been a warrior.

[Sylvanfan]

I voted Engelland. The Canucks game plan should have been to try and exploit him playing 20 minutes a game and they were not able to do so. He basically played the way everyone hoped Smid would when the Flames made that trade.

Haha Zybenek Michalek. Veto a trade to Calgary to go to St.Louis and now you are golfing. Good on Engelland for stepping up. Hopefully he can keep it up for 6 more weeks.

[Travis Munroe]

I voted for Joe... I have been critical of his play down the stretch and he elevated his game big time for the playoffs. He is using his size and reach to buy time in the offensive zone while everyone else prepared for a cycle.
He also found a new gear in terms of his skating!

Jones obviously is another top pick however I have always been pretty high on the guy and many expected big things from him in terms of goals. This playoff series has really shown the type of player Hartley has turned him into and thats powerful forward who spends much of his time in the O zone. Can't ask for much more from your 2/3 line guys.

[cannon7]

Jones was 1/3rd of that shutdown line and provided timely goals. His hits weren't as brtual as Ferland, but he played with more of an edge than I've ever seen him before. Hope that line has similar success with the Getzlaf-Perry line, which is a daunting task. But if anyone can get under their skin, it's that line.

[burn_this_city]

Toss up between Backlund, Jones, and Engelland. Went with Backlund since he seemed to get less attention.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by 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.

The only thing worse than your English is your recollection of what happened. The Flames did with games 3 and 4, but lost game 5.

I voted Backlund, and thought he was excellent for most of the series. He struggled in game 2, but I blame myself for wearing my Backlund jersey to that game. I put too much pressure on him.

[Enoch Root]

Jones: +5
Stajan: +5
Ferland: +5

on tough minutes, often against the Sedins.

[kipperiggy]

I picked Hiller just because he was outstanding to keep us in it in game 5 (and played well all series) and I hope game 6 doesn't stick in people's minds, and that he starts Game 1 vs. Anaheim. I agree with the posters who've mentioned previously that the pull was more so a wake-up call to the team, though.

[1991 Canadian]

Hiller/Ramo.

I thought Hiller was the difference maker in game 1. When the game was 1-0 Canucks, he made some top level saves to keep the Flames in the game. He kept the score close until the rest of the team showed up.

Ramo in game 6 made some key saves as well. He stopped a Horvat on a good chance when the game was 3-0. Most importantly, he pokechecked one of the Sedins left alone in front of the net before we got the empty netter.

Tough question though. This team is chock full of underrated players.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

This is an easy question. David Jones

He had 5 points in 6 games, tying himself with Sean Monahan for 14th in league playoff scoring. He was a +5, tying him for first among all players in the playoffs (even if an empty net goal added to the total, who cares?). He did this while having the unenviable task of shutting down the opposition's top line, and doing so very effectively for the most part without taking a single penalty. He scored big goals at big moments in the series, especially early in games when most of the team was not playing that well. He had 16 shots on goal, 2nd on the team to Backlund. Don't forget 16 hits, 5 blocked shots, and 5 takeaways to 1 giveaway.

He did nearly everything a single player can do to help win a playoff game, and got next to no recognition for it. We all drastically undervalue David Jones.

[mrkajz44]

I went with Backlund - he gets nearly no praise at all, but I think he's the best defensive forward on our team. And the reason he gets no praise is the same concept as most defensive players, when they are having a great game, you barely notice them.

[darthma]

WIDEMAN. I know he's not on the list and he's been widely praised. However, it's UNREAL how far he's come this year. I just remember hearing an interview with him about seeing Gio train in the offseason, and how Wideman realized he needed to be more serious about his off-ice training. Did it ever pay off this year.

Think about this - on every other team he's been on, when the playoffs rolled around, he sat on the bench. Washington I think benched him during the playoffs, despite a solid regular season. (I can't find evidence of this... but I recall this to be true. I did, however, find this awesome article title - "Dennis Wideman to Calgary: Irrelevant")

Now to this year. He doesn't look as slow. He doesn't look like he's going to get beat to the puck. He pinches and doesn't get caught (that often). I am extremely happy with how the defense stepped up this year.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I would of said Engelland, but I don't think he stood out any more than he did when he started playing top-4 minutes. Not a knock on him, he's been very consistent and lets Brodie do his thing without making too many mistakes.

Jones was great this entire series and consistently on the scoresheet so I don't really consider him under-rated in this series.

My vote went for Backlund as he played a virtually mistake free series. It's at the point where I sub-consciously don't panic whenever I see #11 on the ice and the opposing team is attacking. His puck possession seemed to really stabilize the 2nd line and give Bennett plenty of chances from in close.

[dash_pinched]

Engelland gets my vote.

http://www.tsn.ca/video/engelland-s-...shift-1.268255

[Radio]

It was a toss up between Jones and Colborne for me, but I went with Joel in the end. When he goes into beast mode he just seems unstoppable.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Colborne

[The Swedish Flame]

This was a tough choice. In the end, I decided between Bollig, Backlund, Schlemko, Raymond, Jones, Engelland, Jooris, Wotherspoon, Potter, Ramo, Hiller, Colborne, and Granlund.

Chose Jones.

[Red Ice Player]

Engelland. Without his big minutes Brodie, Wideman and Russell would have been completely gassed by now, and the Flames wouldn't have even made the playoffs to begin with. I would say those three big playoff gates so far have easily covered his salary this year and next, so bitching about him being overpaid is a moot point. Jones has been a beast as well. I hope those posters who so gleefully joked about his injuries early on this season know how stupid and petty their words sound now. Yeah, I cannot stand those who just have to have whipping boys.

[Stay Golden]

Engelland for his physical play and large minutes.
That 3 min shift should set him apart.
Jones also has really ramped his physical play and Forchecking. The points he has contributed have helped the team with secondary scoring.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

It's crazy that there are over a half dozen answers that wouldn't be bad picks. What a friggin team.
I knew I'd missed the playoff intensity, and have still enjoyed watching the last few years.. But I forgot what THIS was like. The last few times we made the dance something just didn't sit right with me, especially the Detroit series, and it always just felt like we were the old animal waiting to be put down (turns out we were).
I wonder exactly just how strong an effect that drawing the no goodest of the bunch added to the Flames' resolve.

Stajan, Engelland, Jones, Backlund and Hiller are all guys who were both phenomenal and much better than I'd expected. I've had a soft spot for Stajan and Backlund, who have accepted less-than-heroic roles perfectly, but the others were all guys I've spoken out against watching games with friends throughout the season, and I'll gladly admit they've completely changed my opinion these past few weeks.

Our d.. No words, probably the biggest sub-plot for us all season. I was ecstatic when we signed Wideman, and quickly soured on him. So glad I didn't get what I wanted at the TDL (massive overpayment for Wideman and an early Wotherspoon call up to round out the season). Everyones been phenomenal and playing way above their pay grade. Will be downright dirty if Brodie doesn't end his career with a handful of Norris&All Star considerations. Russel seems to be exponentially better as his time here passes. Our stopgap/role player pickups this season have silenced every critic who hasn't already ordered an Oilers McDavid jersey.

Glad to see our top line gaining momentum, the inexperience and magnified attention from the Canucks top players put them in a sink or swim scenario we all have to be pretty happy with.

I don't know what to say other than I am geeking out way too hard on all of this. To say I am emotionally invested in this team doesn't even begin to cover it.

Bring on the Ducks