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Old 05-09-2018, 01:18 AM   #11906
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: Calgary
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I agree with the sentiment that Hamonic was pretty shaky to start the season but after 25 games or so, I think he played okay for a top 4 shut-down defenceman considering how badly Brodie played for the majority of the season.

In his own end, I really liked his ability to clear the net in front of our goalies and he was strong in the corners and in those 50-50 puck battles. From what I remember, Hamonic had a tough time adjusting to Gulutzan's system of breaking the puck out of the zone and hopefully Peters' is able to implement a system that isn't so predictable where we would fire the puck down the boards and hope a winger was there to pick it up. In terms of offence, I think with the Hamonic and Brodie pairing together, it seemed like Hamonic was tentative in moving the puck up and played a more passive offensive game trying to cover for Brodie and I wonder if these 2 can be a more cohesive pair under Peters.

As for Russell, I like him as a 5-6D but that 4x4 contract is just not worth it for what he brings to the table. He is an elite shot-blocker but has a really tough time in his own zone whenever there is a battle for the puck. As a defenceman that doesn't put up big numbers in the stats department, you have to be able to hold your own in the defensive end and Russell doesn't quite do that for me if he is going up against top 6 forwards.
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