It's arguable which Flames youngster is considered the first pillar of the post-Iginla rebuild. Most probably consider it to be Sean Monahan or Johnny Gaudreau. Maybe some are waiting for Sam Bennett or Matthew Tkachuk to become the icon of a new era.
I contend it's T.J. Brodie. The 26-year-old defender's rise from obscurity was one of the first indications that the team might have a future beyond Iginla and the old guard. In fact, it was the Jay Bouwmeester trade in 2012 that gave us a hint of how good Brodie was going to be.
A former fourth round pick, Brodie was considered a good, but not great, NHL prospect when he was in junior.