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Flames Draft Watcher · 06-24-2018, 02:21 PM

We can all focus on something a lot more concrete than the smoke IMO.

Dougie has the skills and physical tools to be one of the best two-way defenders in the league. But it’s clear from watching his play in his own zone that he just doesn’t have the drive to be the best player he could be. You see Gio busting his ass to cover defenders, diving in front of shots, using his average size to physically punish players. You’d rarely see Hamilton do any of that. Hamilton was often lazy and soft in his own zone. That was his choice. He has the potential to be great in his own zone but he doesn’t seem to hate losing enough to actually bust his ass in his own zone.

All the other smoke about his off ice character is whatever to me. Bottom line is that Hamilton’s on ice play in his own zone speaks volumes about his lack of desire to be the best, his being okay with losing.

I think this is by far the biggest issue. You want your core guys to be drivers, warriors. You want guys who have a burning desire to be the best and guys who can’t stand to lose. It’s clear Hamilton was lacking in this area.

06-24-2018, 02:21 PM	#64
Flames Draft Watcher In the Sin Bin Join Date: Oct 2001 Exp:	We can all focus on something a lot more concrete than the smoke IMO. Dougie has the skills and physical tools to be one of the best two-way defenders in the league. But it’s clear from watching his play in his own zone that he just doesn’t have the drive to be the best player he could be. You see Gio busting his ass to cover defenders, diving in front of shots, using his average size to physically punish players. You’d rarely see Hamilton do any of that. Hamilton was often lazy and soft in his own zone. That was his choice. He has the potential to be great in his own zone but he doesn’t seem to hate losing enough to actually bust his ass in his own zone. All the other smoke about his off ice character is whatever to me. Bottom line is that Hamilton’s on ice play in his own zone speaks volumes about his lack of desire to be the best, his being okay with losing. I think this is by far the biggest issue. You want your core guys to be drivers, warriors. You want guys who have a burning desire to be the best and guys who can’t stand to lose. It’s clear Hamilton was lacking in this area.