Quote:
Originally Posted by stone hands
brodie
kid's our best player by a country mile, and that's no slight to johnny either
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I'm curious as to how finishing a very brief comparison with what makes the same connection to most readers as say, a more direct "and it isn't even close", accurately or even intelligently describes the effectiveness/value of our two most important players moving forward in any way that's -not- a slight to Johnny though?
To me, without digging into stuff like pro experience and the different paths taken to get achieve their respective abilities and levels of success, they're both incredibly gifted and hard working success stories. Both were long shots to varying extents, and both bring effective/valuable and unique abilities (the kind of stuff that's damn near impossible to teach; you have it or you don't .. The "it" factor) specific to the positions they play that set them aside from their peers in ways that are noticed around the league.
Initially I thought I'd reply Johnny for sure when I skimmed this thread, mainly because I can remember being flat out "kid who just saw magic for the first time" impressed with the way he played the game. I remember thinking "this is the break we deserve", while silently trying to temper my own expectations due to a history of disappointments with the team, and the elephant in the room that was the possibility of one or more elements of what made him the wizard we see today not translating to the NHL, or physical limitations cutting his chance before he had a chance to shine.
Brodie on the other hand, never captivated me in that same way, or even close at first to be honest. I'd always hoped he was able to make the team in a top 4 capacity, and frankly it's my own fault for either overlooking or more likely just undervaluing a lot of the strides his development took. For a long time we had a few incarnations of what I considered a pretty "set" group of d pairings that always had a combo of some big names and the ability to pack a punch/be considered a threat. The level he's reached over the past 3 seasons, and the fact he just seems to be getting better constantly, is impressive as hell.
At the end of the day, I could probably change my mind and justify the answer half a dozen times throughout each of the next few seasons, based almost entirely on the ups and downs / perceived strengths and weaknesses of the team far more so than an actual divide between the abilities of these two.
Both have that game breaking extra gear they can find when nobody else has the answer, type of players who can galvanize a team and have fans/players on both sides shaking their heads in either amazement or respect.
Now let's just Johnny signed to that TJ Brodie money
