Quote:
Originally Posted by TheoFleury
Regehr is a good a example of a D that started to put his defensive game together at around Hamilton's age, and he was a pure shutdown guy with no offense to speak of. If Hamilton can become half of what Regehr was in his own end, the rest is already there. Most Dmen aren't great defenders age 18-23, there is no reason Hamilton can't improve in this area by a fair amount over the next year or two.
If he is still lacking defensively at 25-26, I will concede the point. However, for right now, it's too early to say what will happen. The kid has all the tools, it's just a matter of putting it all together. Of course there are no guarantees, but to EXPECT he won't improve is a weird opinion IMO.
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IIRC, Regehr was expected to be somewhat of an offensive guy out of junior. in his first couple years there were sure critics. Then he found his game. There may have been a bit more patience because of his accident.
Hamilton will get better - he's had three coaches and three systems in three years. I wish he'd develop his slapshot more, to be a threat on the PP, though his wrister is deadly.