I agree Hartley coming in let j bo get back to jumping into the rush and being more offensive ... But to say he was the same defensively his first game as a flame compared to his last is wrong ... Guy was brought in to shutdown and looked lost trying to do so ... Not so much last year
- Redmile247

I don't think you give him enough credit for his all around game in Florida... I get the irony that I'm defending him.

....Well at least you did the work for me and lost all credibility on your own. Let me put it this way...if Giordano played for a high profile team in the east (let's say one that has a leaf on the front of it) there would have been weekly TSN articles on the merits of him making the team, and public outrage over the fact that he was not included on the roster. Staal isn't healthy (non-factor), Letang (honestly it was either him or subban, wouldn't be both), Phaneuf (seriously? I'm not a Phaneuf hater to be clear, but Giordano is just a better all around defensemen, that brings the same elements Phaneuf does with much less risk).

...I'm not even going to waste my time going through the rest, because TSN is confirming our belief that Gio is next in line for a D spot.
- Saskabush

totally agree here. the problem with the nhl and the hockey scouting system as a whole is that really great defensive d-men always seem to get over looked. its so easy to stand out if your that guy that is leading his team in points as a d-men instead of the guy who gets the puck in his zone and 98% of the time and always makes the perfect outlet pass and has the entire side of his ice on offence lock down.

I don't think you give him enough credit for his all around game in Florida... I get the irony that I'm defending him.
- vetts

your trying to argue your point so it's appropriate

I think we are somewhere in between as your giving him too much maybe and I'm probably not giving him enough

I think the dislike for sutters all defense system is clouding your judgement

Look at guys like stajan and even jokinen ... They were whipping boys until they learned to play better defensively .... That was they only plus I seen out of sutters style ... He helped the defensive side of many players boumeester included

your trying to argue your point so it's appropriate

I think we are somewhere in between as your giving him too much maybe and I'm probably not giving him enough

I think the dislike for sutters all defense system is clouding your judgement

Look at guys like stajan and even jokinen ... They were whipping boys until they learned to play better defensively .... That was they only plus I seen out of sutters style ... He helped the defensive side of many players boumeester included
- Redmile247

We can agree that the Sutters helped many players defensive games. I will concede that.

totally agree here. the problem with the nhl and the hockey scouting system as a whole is that really great defensive d-men always seem to get over looked. its so easy to stand out if your that guy that is leading his team in points as a d-men instead of the guy who gets the puck in his zone and 98% of the time and always makes the perfect outlet pass and has the entire side of his ice on offence lock down.
- cyguns

I would say Gio has more offensive upside than people realise.

We can agree that the Sutters helped many players defensive games. I will concede that.
- vetts

Your starting to crack

I would say Gio has more offensive upside than people realise.
- vetts

Much more

Much more
- Redmile247

We're agreeing too much... Somebody lock this thread.

I like Gio and would love him on the buds, but he's not even close to Olympic standard...
- lumlums

Yzerman told him to stay ready in case someone presently on the team goes down, so I guess Stevie Y feels a little different.

I agree Hartley coming in let j bo get back to jumping into the rush and being more offensive ... But to say he was the same defensively his first game as a flame compared to his last is wrong ... Guy was brought in to shutdown and looked lost trying to do so ... Not so much last year
- Redmile247

If you're right, then Sutter fcked up! He was never solely a shut down guy.

On an unrelated note (and to get some more discussion going). I'd really like the NHL to create the Bobby Orr award for best offensive defensemen. It seems the writers in the east just vote for who has the most points (which doesnt really do justice to the award for best DEFENSEMAN), I mean c'mon Subban and Letang in the top 3 last year...but Doughty barely cracks the top ten...leads me to believe that the voting system needs to be changed....or maybe they should be forced to watch some west coast games for once


Edit: I mention this because Subban was a bubble Dman to make team Canada....and well Letang really didn't have much of a chance if Subban was going IMO.

On an unrelated note (and to get some more discussion going). I'd really like the NHL to create the Bobby Orr award for best offensive defensemen. It seems the writers in the east just vote for who has the most points (which doesnt really do justice to the award for best DEFENSEMAN), I mean c'mon Subban and Letang in the top 3 last year...but Doughty barely cracks the top ten...leads me to believe that the voting system needs to be changed....or maybe they should be forced to watch some west coast games for once


Edit: I mention this because Subban was a bubble Dman to make team Canada....and well Letang really didn't have much of a chance if Subban was going IMO.
- Saskabush

I like your idea, there needs to be best defensive forward too.

I like your idea, there needs to be best defensive forward too.
- FL4MES

Bob Gainey or Guy Carbonneau Award possibly?

I like your idea, there needs to be best defensive forward too.
- FL4MES

Isn't that the Selke award?

Isn't that the Selke award?
- bastage

Come on now... You're ruining the fun.

He was what he he is. A solid performer in all aspects, not a difference-maker. He's above average for sure, but his lack of intensity is a HUGE question mark for me.
- vetts

Did you question Niklas Lidstrom's intensity?

If you're right, then Sutter fcked up! He was never solely a shut down guy.
- whipper334

I think we don't have to question whether or not sutter fcked up

The question should be how many times

I think we don't have to question whether or not sutter fcked up

The question should be how many times
- Redmile247

JBo is deserving.

And it is not just because he is playing with Petro. Petro is better because he is playing with JBo, JBo is better because he is playing with Petro. They both are excellent players.

Thanks for JBo.

I understand it stings a bit as he wasn't this good with Calgary. That doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve to play for Team Canada, because he absolutely does.

Flames couldn't be more disinterested in this game.

Flames couldn't be more disinterested in this game.
- Gerk

Shutout in 5 of last 7.....new lows for this team coming.....

Shutout in 5 of last 7.....new lows for this team coming.....
- Iggysbff

...hopefully we can get back to the basics, and at least score a few goals again sooner, rather than later. The losses throughout the season weren't bothering me so much, as long as we had a chance to win the game....without that it's a little more painful.

JBo is deserving.

And it is not just because he is playing with Petro. Petro is better because he is playing with JBo, JBo is better because he is playing with Petro. They both are excellent players.

Thanks for JBo.

I understand it stings a bit as he wasn't this good with Calgary. That doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve to play for Team Canada, because he absolutely does.
- carcus

The thing that burns me is, back in 2010 I thought JBo was going to be on the team, and he wasn't. He's the same basic player he was then, as he is now (not a whole lot has changed IMO). He deserves to be there sure, but I don't think he makes it if it wasn't for the Pietrangelo factor even though he has the proper skill set to deserve to be there on his own merits.

Edit: Thanks for Poirer Kid looks to be a beauty

Shutout in 5 of last 7.....new lows for this team coming.....
- Iggysbff

There's a lower than this? We've been outscored 11-0 in the last two games, short term there is no lower lol Now it's just a waiting period to see how long it takes before Burke's head finally explodes

There's a lower than this? We've been outscored 11-0 in the last two games, short term there is no lower lol Now it's just a waiting period to see how long it takes before Burke's head finally explodes
- Talking_hockey1

well we could have a bunch of first round picks and be lower in ranking....thats lower.

We over performed in the first half. Tonights game is not what I want to see though, they were disinterested.

If we lose. I would prefer to see them losing like the first half. Trying.

And whats with The Heat, Beart goes down and they're terrible.