Quote:
Originally Posted by 1991 Canadian
All the armchair stats indicate he's a great defenceman who has a very high value.
6'5". 210 lbs. 24 years old. Ontario boy. 3 more years left on a 5.75 million AAV contract. Career 55% corsi player. Led the league in NHL goals by defenceman this year. 40+ points each of the last 4 years. Stays healthy.
But if you scratch a bit beneath the surface, there are warts. He does not play like a 6'5" defenceman. He has a reputation for being a good skater, yet I consistently watch him get beat by players and take stupid stick infraction penalties. He gets caught of position frequently and takes stupid stick infraction penalties. He loses more board battles than he wins and takes stupid penalties.
If he has time in his zone, his breakout passes are often knee high or he telegraphs his pass for so long that it is easily picked off by the opposition. If he is rushed in his own zone, there is a 95 percent chance the puck is being coughed up or iced. He will not take a hit to make a play. He lacks intensity at times.
I like Hamilton. I don't think the Flames should trade him. But he is my poster child example for a player whose regular stats don't paint the entire picture. He is a great offensive defenceman, but his defensive game still needs a lot of work.
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I get both sides of the argument, I just find it funny when posters talk about how bad a player is but that they can get a huge return for him.