T.J. Brodie is a top pairing defenceman.
Or at least, that’s what it’s been easy to see him as. For most of his time in the NHL, he’s been partnered with Mark Giordano. It was once those two came together than both looked like full-fledged top pairing defenceman – something they hadn’t necessarily on their own before. They legitimately boosted one another’s games, and were often a rare shine of positivity in what was mostly a desolate roster trying to trudge its way through a rebuild.
With a new coach, they were split up this past season.