[GranteedEV]

I just want to point out, that Dougie Hamilton will have been the most mobile puckmoving competent true RHD partner Smid has played with since Jeff Petry.

According to hockeyanalysis, as a Flame his even strength partners have been:

284:56 minutes with Wideman (immobile, generally has defensive issues)
220:17 minutes with Engelland (immobile, has serious issues with clearouts. This was a pairing from Hell)
182:25 minutes with Butler (that same Chris Butler)
176:05 minutes with Giordano (both want to play the same side, but their combined 49.07 CA/60 is a good shot attempt suppression stat considering this team's defensive issues. For comparision, Gio-Hamilton is at 61.19CA/60, or 12 more shot attempts allowed per 60 minutes. Gio-Brodie was at 50.53CA/60 and Chara/Dougie was at 47.47 albeit on a much better team)
98:07 minutes with Brodie (for whatever reason, this pairing didn't work but their 32.1 OZS% might be why - they were used the same way Brodie-Engelland were last year in a pure defense role)
60:43 minutes with Diaz (not as good as Petry or Hamilton)

In many ways Smid's early career success was a direct result of the combination of Petry's skillset. Hamilton is a good fit beside him, for two reasons:

1) Smid assumes all crease-clearing duties, which Hamilton appears to be struggling with
2) Hamilton assumes all zone breakout duties, which Smid struggles with.

They are Yin and Yang, Ladi and Dougie.

I dub thee:

Dougislav