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Calgary Flames: Five Pairing Options for T.J. Brodie

By Ramina Shlah

Mar 29, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman TJ Brodie (7) during the warmup period against the Los Angeles Kings at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman TJ Brodie (7) during the warmup period against the Los Angeles Kings at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 9, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) and St. Louis Blues right wing Dmitrij Jaskin (23) battle for the puck during the third period at Scottrade Center. The Blues won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) and St. Louis Blues right wing Dmitrij Jaskin (23) battle for the puck during the third period at Scottrade Center. The Blues won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Tyson Barrie

Tyson Barrie would be my ultimate ideal defender. With him on that top-four pairing, that would really be the final missing piece of the Calgary Flames defence puzzle. The one problem is that he’s somewhat expensive (avg. salary of $5.5 million until 2021), but I truly think that this will completely solidify this team.

I would be willing for the Flames to trade their first round pick for Barrie. He has incredible puck movement, speed, he’s an awesome skater (like Brodie), and he’s a great offensive defenceman. He’s quite young too (25 years old) and is starting to get into his prime. Last season, he had seven goals and 38 points in 74 games with the Colorado Avalanche. Keep in mind, he did play with the Colorado Avalanche. The worst team in the NHL with the lowest amount of goals for (165) and the worst goal differential in the league (-111).

He’s another solid powerplay option and given that he played on the worst NHL team and still managed to put up respectable numbers (tied for third in points on the Avalanche), if gone to a better team, he can really shine. And I would definitely be on board of the Flames trading their first round pick at the 16th overall pick if it meant getting Barrie. That would be a fun draft day, hey?

Related Story: Flames Should Trade their First Round Pick

The only thing is, like I mentioned, he’s an incredible skater. But so is T.J. Brodie. So having that second pairing be fast and good skating defencemen while the first pairing are a little slower and not as good skaters isn’t ideal. A couple options would be to put Barrie with Dougie on that first pairing. They would be dangerous, especially on the powerplay. Something the Flames struggled with early on in the season. Then put Gio with Brodie on that second pairing.

Another option would be to keep Barrie and Brodie together but move them to that first unit. However, I’d much prefer the first option. Then you have two great skaters on both first and second unit and it will really solidify the blue-line and give the Flames one of the best top-four in the league.

Getting Barrie would be a steal, almost like getting Dougie back in 2015 was a steal for the Flames.

Next: 2017 NHL Draft Profile: D Timothy Liljegren

There you have it! Top five defence options for the Calgary Flames right now. Wow, I guess this turned more into a “top-five defence options for the Flames” over top five for Brodie. But you get it. Is there any one of these options you’d like to see, or if you could have any defenceman in the league come to the Flames, who would it be? Let us know in the comments below!

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