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Defending the line could again be an issue for Calgary's 2nd pairing

July 20, 2018, 11:05 AM ET [60 Comments]
Todd Cordell
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Bill Peters has already suggested the plan is to start with a top-4 of Mark Giordano - T.J. Brodie and Noah Hanifin - Travis Hamonic.

On the surface it makes a lot of sense.

Giordano and Brodie have played together, and enjoyed success, in the past. Not to the same level Giordano did with Dougie Hamilton – almost no pairing reached those heights – but they were good. No surprise there as their skillsets mesh quite well.



It's easy to see why a Hanifin - Hamonic pairing is intriguing, too. Hanifin is a good puck mover and he'll take some risks. Hamonic is physical and defensive minded. Like with Giordano and Brodie, you'd think their strengths would help mask the other's weaknesses.

That could prove to be true in many aspects. Defending the blue line probably isn't one of them.

Neither player was particularly good at doing so last season over ~20 game samples.



Hamonic's struggles in that area are not at all surprising. He and, to a lesser extent, Brodie made a habit of leaving acres of space for opposing forwards to comfortably attack them with. It was tough to watch on a lot of nights.

You'd like to pawn off those struggles on system effects or simply having a down year. The problem with that is, over a 29-game sample, Hamonic was even worse defending the line in 2016-17. It's clearly not a strength.



Now, it is worth noting Hanifin excelled at defending the line in 2016-17. Maybe he can get back to that.

Perhaps systematic changes, or being more aggressive, could help Hamonic improve in that area moving forward.

If not, arguably the main issue that haunted the Flames' 2nd pairing last season could do the same in 2018-19.

Recent posts:

Flames place Brett Kulak on waivers

Flames sign Elias Lindholm to a six-year extension

A closer look at the Derek Ryan and Austin Czarnik signings

​James Neal a necessary signing for the Flames

​Reviewing the Flames' 2018 draft class

​Dynamite U21 seasons from Andersson + Kylington put them in good company
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