Photo Credit: Sergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports
Hallelujah!
Key Calgary Flames defenseman T.J. Brodie is nearing a return to the lineup, and could play as soon as Wednesday night against the Ottawa Senators. The lanky 25-year-old puck-moving defenseman has yet to play this season as a result of a hand injury, and his absence has been sorely felt by a Flames team that has struggled enormously for any number of reasons.
If Brodie returns on Wednesday, he’ll play on a defensive pairing with Mark Giordano. Of course. Where else would he play?
Look we all know that Brodie is a remarkable player. The fast defenseman is steady and clever in his own end of the rink, and absolutely dynamic when he’s rushing the puck. He led all Flames defenders in ice-time last season while playing more minutes per game than anybody at 5-on-5 and holding down a key secondary role on both the penalty kill and the power play. He also managed 41 points.
He may not be widely recognized for it outside of Western Canada, but Brodie is a high-end top-pairing defenseman. In his absence everyone – but Giordano especially – has looked a little bit worse than they did a year ago. When you’ve got a player like Brodie holding down big minutes, a player who can skate the puck out of trouble and has an uncanny knack for just making the right play over and over and over again, it makes everything a little bit easier for the rest of the defense corps.
When you think about the vertical attacking game and the solid defense that characterized Calgary’s identity during the 2014-15 miracle season, Brodie was pretty much always in the centre of it. This season those components of the Flames’ success have been entirely lacking, and we’re left to wonder how much Brodie’s return to action might change that.
While we all knew that Brodie was good, his absence this month has left us wondering if he’s actually ‘game changer good’. He really might be.
And his return to action can’t come soon enough for the Flames.
UPDATE: Brodie has officially been activated from the injury reserve.
#Flames website has updated their injured reserve…Brodie activated, Ferland placed on IR. Calgary now at 23 on the active roster.
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) October 28, 2015
This doesn’t mean he’s officially playing, but it looks pretty good.
Wooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
What do you mean the Flames will be able to complete a breakout pass tonight?
I’m excited for that second line.
JH-Bennet-Frolik
Should be a fun game to watch. Bennet with his first
I think they had Gaudreau – Bennett – Frolik together this morning.
I think Gaudreau and Bennett has to happen.
JH=Johnny Hockey
He paid money for that trademark, might as well use it
My bad.. I thought that was Jiri Hudler lol.
Yes, intrigued.
Also, apparently Grant vs. Stajan is a game time decision for 4th Center. I’m really hoping Grant.
I approve of the forward lines (provided that they’re deployed like I think they ought to be). And really, if Hartley won’t break up Russell-Wideman then Treliving needs to.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, that’s a fast recovery. Awesome news.
Just a few days ago it was reported that Brodie was skating with the team but not shooting…I doubt he is fully healed and hope the he doesn’t take a slash that sets him back(knocks on wood).His presence is most welcome though!!!
Honestly, even if he never shoots the puck during this game, and avoids getting involved physically to protect his hand, he’ll still be better than at least half of the Flames dmen.
It’s been 5 of the 6 weeks recovery time, so he won’t be 100%, but I don’t think he’ll be at risk of re-injuring it. He’ll just be playing in a lot of pain.
Recovery times are just estimates. Look at Marcus Stroman… he was supposed to be gone for a whole year and yet there he was pitching like a boss in Sept.
That he’s (Brodie) back a week ahead of sched doesn’t mean he isn’t 100% healthy.
The fracture is most likely healed, but there could still be some inflammation and stiffness he’s dealing with.
Absolutely agree