Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Hamilton had an expected goals for of 97 and an expected goals against of 63 and he was +1
Jones had an expected goals for of 90 and an expected goals against of 36 and he was +10
(a higher expected goals against number is better - it is reversed)
So either Hamilton is really unlucky and Jones is phenomenally lucky, or maybe these numbers don't show what they think they show.
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Yeah, it could be that all these metrics, which show Hamilton in a higher or much higher percentile than Jones, are flawed. Or it could just be that Dougie Hamilton is an elite defenceman. I remember the days when people used to complain about Eric Karlsson's lack of game in the defensive zone. They complained until they realized it didn't matter because when he was on the ice his team always had the puck in the other team's end. It's the same thing with Dougie Hamilton. Oh no, he doesn't throw big body checks. Oh no, he doesn't block shots. He has no heart, no grit and is not a team player.
The truth is that Dougie Hamilton is also flawed. Sometimes he coughs up the puck and looks silly. He takes way too many penalties and causes the other team to take way too few. He is not mean and, in that sense, is not hard to play against.
But, come on! There is no doubt that Dougie Hamilton also has enormous strengths. Otherwise, his team would not do so well in all of these metrics with him on the ice.
He had a better effect on the Flames' performance in all of them than Jones did on the Blue Jackets' performance despite playing with approximately equal teammates and against much harder opposition.
Now, that is not to suggest that Dougie Hamilton was a team player. It looks like he may not have been. But I don't think anyone can truly gather that from how he played. He is an amazing hockey player.
The Flames gave up a ton in this trade. Now, let's hope that Lindholm's really positive playmaking abilities, which suggest he should've had better results in the past, lead to an explosion in points this year and Hanifin continues to develop into a Seth Jones/Dougie Hamilton type defenceman.