[Rumour] Friedman: Flames trying to find a right shot d-man to play with Brodie

[Olsy]

Re: the left side vs. Right side debate for Brodie... Defensmen constantly rotate while defending in their own zone, they don't stay on one side vs. the other. The only instance where the side a defensman plays has any impact on the game is at a face off or in the offensive zone and even then there is typically rotation during line changes. I would say the argument that he makes better passes from his backhand in transition is moot as a result. I think the issues he is having this year are between the ears and potentially lack of chemistry with his new partner.

[Isikiz]

I think building up Brodie's ability to play both sides would be a huge benefit to the club playing forward. It would give a lot more flexibility to the pairings and give him the ability to elevate any pairing that he is put on. Right now it seems a little tougher, but I think he'll bounce back (as long as he's not with Wideman).

[CalgaryFan1988]

So much to debate about Brodie's season.

Is he having trouble because he's on the left side?

Is it because he's playing with Wideman?

Is it due to his personal life right now?

I think it's more to do with the last two, rather than which side he's on.

Be interesting to see him play with a good #3/4.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by Buff

Don't forget about Giordano going down with injury in February of 2015. Gio didn't play the rest of the year, not even the playoffs. Brodie didn't miss a beat, and most would say that he elevated his play. So, don't diminish what Brodie has done by saying he was riding on Gio's coattails. He has shown what he can do when he is the top defenseman on the team and he didn't need to rely on anybody to make him look better. He is capable of doing that all on his own.

I asked questions. I didn't say Brodie was riding anyones coattails.

One could infer that the whole team, by February of that year was playing well and upped their game after Gio went down, especially Engelland and certainly not just Brodie.

[bigrangy]

Josh Manson out of Anaheim would be perfect, but he'd cost major assets and would have to be traded for post expansion. He's mean and can also play hockey, which is way too rare a trait these days.

[Fan in Exile]

Of course there is a general theory with evidence to support it that having a left-hander together with a right-hander is preferable. BUT we have had one of the top pairing in the league over the past two seasons with two left-handers and a RH #3 who frankly I don't think is ready to be top pairing despite some growth and a lot of upside to his game. So why limit the search to a right-hander? The Flames should be open to acquiring a LH #4 to play with Hamilton, or trying Kulak or Jokkipakka w/ Hamilton if they're not satisfied with Gio/Hamilton and Brodie/Engelland for the time being. Next season we should be looking at trying Andersson at #4 w/ Brodie and a bottom pairing of Jokkipakka and Kulak/Wotherspoon. I don't see a RH defenseman to play w/ Brodie playing on the left as a sensible plan unless there is a specific target in mind that is an ideal fit.

[neo45]

Brodie played the left side when Gio went down and immediately was great at it.

The problem is so obviously Wideman

[dustygoon]

Huh. So it has to be a right shot defenseman then i guess. There were great links provided by someone else earlier showing stats behind the advantages of being on the proper side. Doesn't mean you can't have outliers like Brodie who given their own abilities, make the off side work for them.

So does this mean if a player like gostisbehere came available (scratched again and didn't like it**), we would pass because he is a left handed blueliner?

Note **: “I don’t know what to think of it right now,” Gostisbehere, 23, said of the latest benching. “I’m definitely not happy, When we lose like that, it’s definitely tough, and it’s a team loss. I guess you have to change some things up when you lose that bad, so I guess it’s my turn."

[Flash Walken]

i can't believe i am agreeing with bigrangy but Manson fits the bill.

[Komskies]

One of Brodie's biggest problems this year is he stopped shooting the puck. Before this season he averaged 1.21 shots per game, this season he's only averaging 0.91 shots per game, a 25% reduction in his shooting rate.

[MarkGio]

Have to shake my head at management if this is true.

1) You either make a decision to move Wideman regardless of what side Brodie is playing on

2) If playing Brodie on the left side is something the Flames want, this has to be looked at after the expansion draft. The Flames are in a nice spot with the 3+6 expansion position, so going to a 4+4 position by acquiring a good defensemen is bad asset management.

I wonder how much of this "win now" mentality is a result of the GM not under contract next year. It's always bad do business when you're desperate

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Have to shake my head at management if this is true.

1) You either make a decision to move Wideman regardless of what side Brodie is playing on

2) If playing Brodie on the left side is something the Flames want, this has to be looked at after the expansion draft. The Flames are in a nice spot with the 3+6 expansion position, so going to a 4+4 position by acquiring a good defensemen is bad asset management.

I wonder how much of this "win now" mentality is a result of the GM not under contract next year. It's always bad do business when you're desperate

I mean, it's obvious to me the Flames don't give a lick about who will play with Brodie.

They can't say "we've been trying to move wideman for years but nobody wants him", they have to say "dennis wideman could be available but we need to make sure a trade is the right fit for the organization."

[Flash Walken]

Speaking of which, are there any members of the Calgary media reporting on sports in the city anymore?

Has anyone followed up on Friedman's bombshell?

Is it tough to get in contact with Flames brass because of the time difference between Calgary and London?

[sureLoss]

Conroy on Sportsnet: they aren't interested in rentals and want someone that can build with.

Also said Roger was warm when Roger suggested they were looking at centermen and defencemen

[Mister Yamoto]

I like the idea of moving Engelland up to play with Brodie. Engelland usually elevates his play in a top 4 role. Especially in short spurts.

[Enoch Root]

Everyone understands that, for most players, playing on the natural side is preferable. But there are always going to be exceptions. Throwing up stats that it is 'proven' simply does not account for the human element - there will always be outliers.

Originally Posted by Olsy

Re: the left side vs. Right side debate for Brodie... Defensmen constantly rotate while defending in their own zone, they don't stay on one side vs. the other. The only instance where the side a defensman plays has any impact on the game is at a face off or in the offensive zone and even then there is typically rotation during line changes. I would say the argument that he makes better passes from his backhand in transition is moot as a result. I think the issues he is having this year are between the ears and potentially lack of chemistry with his new partner.

I think you're understating it. One thing that is constantly affected by which side you're playing is which corner you start in when the other team dumps it in. It completely changes your angles, and options, as you head into the corner.

The simple fact of the matter is this: for some defensemen, it doesn't matter all that much. For others, it does. I shoot left, but always preferred playing the right side, and was a better player when I did.

Having said all that, I agree with those that say the bigger factor is who his partner is. Once they get Brodie a better partner, one that he can gel with, he'll be a better player again, no matter which side he is on.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

No... He isnt.

lol. close enough

[Tron_fdc]

Just caught the highlights.

3 of his 4 assists came from his off wing.

Sorry, but the coaching staff needs to start realizing this guy is a left handed shot that plays the right side.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Just caught the highlights.

3 of his 4 assists came from his off wing.

Sorry, but the coaching staff needs to start realizing this guy is a left handed shot that plays the right side.

It'd really help if they unstapled the giant boat anchor from his ankles first too

[Draug]

Originally Posted by Olsy

Re: the left side vs. Right side debate for Brodie... Defensmen constantly rotate while defending in their own zone, they don't stay on one side vs. the other. The only instance where the side a defensman plays has any impact on the game is at a face off or in the offensive zone and even then there is typically rotation during line changes. I would say the argument that he makes better passes from his backhand in transition is moot as a result. I think the issues he is having this year are between the ears and potentially lack of chemistry with his new partner.

True .... but Wideman is so brutally slow that he cant rotate with Brodie as often as Brodie would want to rotate. With a good parnter, which side Brodie is less important. But right now, he is stuck covering for Wideman almost his entire shift.