To those asking about Johnson, he was rock-solid again, certainly not his fault.
Except for the 3rd goal where he played the puck behind the net and gave it to the Flyers for an easy tap in. That is the 3rd time this year he has given up a goal in that regard (playing the puck behind the net). And the worst thing is that Hamilton was standing right beside him and would have easily played the puck himself if Johnson had just stayed in his crease. That play drives me mental.
And it is a back breaker for the bench. And sure, enough, they score 30 seconds later to make it 4-1.
Personally, I would have pulled him at that point, not because it was his fault, but in order to save him for today's game.
No way in hell we are getting a 2nd round pick for Wideman. I'll take a 6th at the deadline.
I'll take a 6th right now; I don't want Wideman on the team until the deadline.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 868904
Every time he is on, the Flames are essentially on the PK.
He loses every race for the puck;
That's one of the (many) things that really drives me nuts about him - he doesn't even try to win races. Countless times I've seen him go back into the defensive zone and intentionally let the opposing forward win the race to the puck, with Wideman then just ineffectively trying to contain the forechecker along the boards.
This will rile some, but Kris Russell would look good in that slot, IMO.
No.. the poor gap control would still exist on the 2nd pair LD. Jokipakka and Kulak certainly have better gap control IMO. Sure Russel is a better shot blocker, but he does nothing else better than what we have already.
As for the right side, Russel never really played the right side for the Flames nor has he really in his career so you can't say he would be better than Wideman what so ever, except for the act that losing Wideman for anything and or anyone is better than having Wideman period.
No.. the poor gap control would still exist on the 2nd pair LD. Jokipakka and Kulak certainly have better gap control IMO. Sure Russel is a better shot blocker, but he does nothing else better than what we have already.
As for the right side, Russel never really played the right side for the Flames nor has he really in his career so you can't say he would be better than Wideman what so ever, except for the act that losing Wideman for anything and or anyone is better than having Wideman period.
So for that sake, I guess you're right?
Russel could have played left, and Brodie could have gone back to the right where he's more comfortable and effective.
...
and the refs have it in for him and the team when he plays...
I don't buy this whole conspiracy theory. To assume that NHL refs league-wide have concocted some kind of a concerted effort to punish Calgary for Wideman's silly tweet is childish. You can question a validity of a goal/no-goal call ("it was in!"), you can question a missed penalty call or an off-side call; that's fair and it does happen from time to time to every team. But questioning the professional integrity of the entire NHL officiating and accusing them of taking vengeance against Wideman and Calgary (after he had already taken a league-imposed suspension) just doesn't hold any water and shouldn't warrant any serious discussion.
I don't like Wideman playing on this team any more than anyone these days. That's not the point. He needs to be traded for a maximum value and, I believe, he has a decent potential to be traded as a 2nd pairing defenseman for his good shot and experience. For that to happen, he needs to play a lot right now, unfortunately for Calgary.
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"An idea is always a generalization, and generalization is a property of thinking. To generalize means to think." Georg Hegel
“To generalize is to be an idiot.” William Blake
I don't buy this whole conspiracy theory. To assume that NHL refs league-wide have concocted some kind of a concerted effort to punish Calgary for Wideman's silly tweet is childish. You can question a validity of a goal/no-goal call ("it was in!"), you can question a missed penalty call or an off-side call; that's fair and it does happen from time to time to every team. But questioning the professional integrity of the entire NHL officiating and accusing them of taking vengeance against Wideman and Calgary (after he had already taken a league-imposed suspension) just doesn't hold any water and shouldn't warrant any serious discussion.
The conspiracy stuff is ridiculous for sure (aka they have a mandate or have agreed to make the Flames pay) but the idea that refs would go hard on Calgary this season as individuals with memory and human emotions in play isn't that far fetched.
And it wouldn't take that many "F you guys" calls to hurt us in games. There's been enough stories/admittance from old refs after they've retired to know that there absolutely is a human side to the officiating game that includes dislikes of players, coaches, teams and poor reffing because of it.
I don't think we're getting nailed, but I wouldn't be surprised if we're getting the odd "you F-ed with us last season, enjoy this penalty" call here and there. No conspiracy, no league wide hidden mandate, just human beings pissed that a guy broke the code and attacked a member of the band of brothers.
