Brodie and Gio are our First Line

[Red Ice Player]

Gio and Brodie are currently the two highest scoring defencemen in the NHL. Combined, they are +30. If you look at the next five highest scoring defencemen in the league, they are a -8 combined. It's pretty clear we have the top pair in the league and they are the two best players on the Flames.

In Hartley's system of five man units, our first line pretty much consists of any group of forwards who share the ice with Gio and Brodie. Ergo, on a team without a clear cut first line, Gio and Brodie are our first line. It certainly helps explain how seamlessly our new forwards have been able to step in. This situation is pretty much unique in the NHL right now, having a prolific top defence pair as main offensive catalyst. Its pretty awesome when our first line can play 25 minutes a night.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

Gio and Brodie are currently the two highest scoring defencemen in the NHL.

[Robo]

It's unreal how good these two are just insane

[djsFlames]

Our top pairing:

25GP 12G 34A 46PTS +30

Keith and Seabrook:

24GP 10G 19A 29PTS +3

Weber and Josi:

23GP 9G 18A 27PTS +20


Top pairing in the league.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Totally agree. Not much to choose between our first few lines (and they are constantly changing, anyway). Gio/Brodie makes the first line and they can clearly be a shutdown line or scoring line, so the matchups become much easier. Keep them rolling, protect Russell/Wideman (who can score) and lets hope the third pairing improves (I thought Engelland was decent last night).

[Caged Great]

If they keep this up, Gio will win the Hart trophy, along with the Norris, and I think Brodie will be getting a nomination as well.

Dominating everyone all the time.

[Red Ice Player]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Our top pairing:

25GP 12G 34A 46PTS +30

Keith and Seabrook:

24GP 10G 19A 29PTS +3

Weber and Josi:

23GP 9G 18A 27PTS +20


Top pairing in the league.

It blows me away that Chicago's top pairing is +3 on a team with a goal differential of +26. They don't sound like the shut down pair on that team, yet Chicago is awesome defensively anyway.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

It blows me away that Chicago's top pairing is +3 on a team with a goal differential of +26. They don't sound like the shut down pair on that team, yet Chicago is awesome defensively anyway.

They're definitely not the shut down pair. I think Hjalmarsson and whoever plays with him is their shutdown pairing.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by codynw

They're definitely not the shut down pair. I think Hjalmarsson and whoever plays with him is their shutdown pairing.

But if that's the case (and I'm not disputing it - I haven't seen enough of CHI this year to know), that should favour their +-

If they aren't playing shut-down, they should have more points and a better differential.

What makes Gio and Brodie so unbelievable is that they are also playing against the toughest competition - and owning.

[smoothessence]

I'd like to see some advanced stats to back up this claim of yours

[Poe969]

What's their GRIT scale #'s? That's the real question.

[RM14]

Just to spread out the awards... it should be Gio with the Hart and Brodie with the Norris

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

It blows me away that Chicago's top pairing is +3 on a team with a goal differential of +26. They don't sound like the shut down pair on that team, yet Chicago is awesome defensively anyway.

Chicago is only a +10 if you take out power play goals for and against (which the +/- stat does). Also, combining their +/- is a bit misleading because Keith is a +6 and Seabrook is a -3.

[Red Ice Player]

Originally Posted by smoothessence

I'd like to see some advanced stats to back up this claim of yours

This is hardly an advanced stat born premise, unless we're talking goals, assists, and plus/minus. It's more of an excited general observation that our defense drives our offence far more than any other team, and we are at an advantage because our best offensive producers are defencemen, who spend far more time on the ice than forwards as a rule. It's a bonus, and somewhat unique, that these players are also our best defensive players as well. And it's not like our forwards suck..
or should that have been green text....

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

This is hardly an advanced stat born premise, unless we're talking goals, assists, and plus/minus. It's more of an excited general observation that our defense drives our offence far more than any other team, and we are at an advantage because our best offensive producers are defencemen, who spend far more time on the ice than forwards as a rule. It's a bonus, and somewhat unique, that these players are also our best defensive players as well. And it's not like our forwards suck..
or should that have been green text....

I think the original post should have been in green text.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by smoothessence

I'd like to see some advanced stats to back up this claim of yours

If this was addressed to me, I am not your guy for links to advanced stats sites. However, they should be easy to find. Search 'quality of competition' and things like that.

Edit: or was your post tongue in cheek?

[Vulcan]

They kind of remind me of when I watched Cam Neely in Midget. He played defence than, kind of. He and his partner were easily the best players on the team and would jump into the play and stay there fore checking behind the goal while a couple of forwards would drop back and stay there. The difference is Gio and Brodie always seem to get back and are rarely caught. Just amazing.

[bob-loblaw]

I can't believe how well Brodie skates. They should get him to be our skating coach too, or hire whoever taught him. I think it was is the third period yesterday that somehow he rushed into the Arizona zone and beat everyone to the puck. How many defenceman do that?

Just like our goaltenders with one being hot and the other lukewarm, it seems like they almost take turns having point streaks while the other one lays low for a bit. This is for points only - they're defensive play is very consistent.

[stemit14]

Is it possible for gio and Brodie to share the Norris trophy?

[OutOfTheCube]

When was the last time a pairing wee both nominated for the Norris? Ever?