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Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
This is against the grain here, but I much preferred Brodie's vision and playmaking over Hamilton's. If there is a single defencemen on this team that I want carrying the puck up the ice, it is Brodie. He just needs a new coach IMO. I think he is way more dynamic, but his confidence has absolutely been crushed these past two seasons. If he can get back to form, magic will happen again. Hamilton makes for a better option as the trailer, Brodie makes for the better option in carrying the puck up ice, attacking the net, and creating a play.
Hamilton has a fantastic shot and has really strong skating ability. He just almost seems lazy at times in the defensive zone, and to me this is an unacceptable trait as a defencemen. There is absolutely no denying his offensive prowess though - his shot is indeed filthy. I wish he would be a bit more choosey with it - he takes a tonne of low percentage shots from a distance with no screens and the goalie set, and ends up killing the zone time. If he just becomes a bit more patient, I think he could put up even more goals/points.
With that being said, I do think that Hamilton has gotten better defensively over the last few seasons overall - it is just his propensity for making what I infer to be 'lazy' penalties still occurs too often. I wouldn't complain if they were the 'over-aggressive' penalties - cross-checking, roughing, etc., - make the forwards pay. However, the stick work (slashing, hooking, tripping) and the holding are all due to him being out of position (not reading the play? not engaged?) or not reacting quick enough.
In my opinion, the Flames should stand pat with their defence this year, and see what a new coach and system can do. Fix the transition (speed it up like they used to play under Hartley, or how even Darryl Sutter stated you need to play now in the NHL), and work on the finer points of defending in practice. This defensive group can push this team hard IMO.
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I agree with this. The style of play has to change. IMO this teams needs to incorporate a style similar to what Laviolette uses in NSH.
In general a more uptempo, offensive, aggressive style where the middle of the ice is used to attack through the neutral and offensive zones.
Brodie and Hamilton would flourish as I believe they would be adding that extra layer (you could throw a Gio and Kulak into the mix). The team was way, way too conservative. That's what I think as the hallmark of Gulutzan's system: methodical and conservative. They need to be dynamic and just faster.
I like Dougie a lot. I think he can improve offensively and defensively but I don't think he's going to be a banger (although I thought he did do more of that). I want to see him harder to play against in his end but different aspects develop at different times and he's extremely gifted offensively so that's what he likes to do- play offense.
I don't think they need to make a huge trade but they need more skill and speed up front but the biggest thing is change the coaching tactics or style of play.