Michael Frolik has been this guy for the Flames. He’s just as good defensively as Backlund, but nobody ever talks about him. He’s about as consistent as they come.
Lindholm could be the guy this year. Doing all the dirty work for the top line while Monahan and Gaudreau rack up points.
Someone mentioned Giordano, and I feel like he’s a bit too “on the radar” for a thread like this. Flames fans all know how good he is. Advanced stats fanatics all know how good he is. Maybe he could generate some more praise but he’s certainly not “unsung”.
That was me, and I see your point.
From the outside, Gio perhaps isn't unsung. But most of the media and things (especially lately) I have read never really talk about Gio. Possibly it's because it's just a straight up forgone conclusion that he will chug along just fine as a pillar of that roster in a neither amazing nor horrible way.
Most of what I read talks about the success based on:
- What's going on with the goalie situation? Will it succeed or collapse?
- How will Peters fit?
- Will Brodie get back to what he was 2-3 seasons ago to reduce the pain of losing Hamilton?
- How will Hanifin/Lindholm/Neal/Czarnik/Dube/Valimaki fit in?
- Andersson/Stone/Valimaki/Kulak combos on bottom pairing?
And not really much for Gio. It was the same in the prior year. Many are aware of Gio, yes. But all the heroes and villains on the team rarely include Gio. Or even if he's included, he's included in an almost supporting cast way. That's what I meant, and that's why I said he's not unsung, but the singing of his praises is about as harmonious as a group singing happy birthday out of tune. I am fine if the consensus is that he doesn't belong in this thread though.
I do agree with a few other Flames posters that Hamonic and Frolik are the ones that don't get the credit they deserve the most.