Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Major
This is just ridiculous to say at this point.
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Is it any more ridiculous than saying Bennet will develop into a 1st-line centre? Both require projections. I know that the most tempting thing for a fan to do is project to maximum potential. I'm not doing that, I'm projecting what I believe is the most likely outcome. I think Hamilton will get better defensively, but to be a top-pairing guy his defensive game will have to improve dramatically, and I don't think that's inevitable. There are lots of 30 year old defencemen in the NHL who are not great defensively. As for physical play, it's pretty rare for a player who lacks aggressiveness and bite at 22 to develop it later in his career. There's nothing wrong with a big, speedy defenceman who can move the puck and has a big shot. And developing into a good #3 isn't some kind of failure or disappointment (for me, anyway).