Hamilton Discussion

[FBI]

OK let's get this Hamilton stuff in one place.

I'm underwhelmed so far (yes it's early), I was caught up in the hype and expecting a bit more Brodie-esque play. What are his strengths so far? Hoping the skating is but haven't seen too much of it yet. The one shot was really nice so hoping to see more of that.

Don't see much fire in this kid yet so hope this demotion gets him mad and gets him going. Would like to see a game where he is + on the +/- scale here.

[CliffFletcher]

People need to understand that Hamilton was highly regarded for his potential as much as for his play thus far in the NHL. He's big, he can skate, and he can shoot. But he's a work in progress without the puck, and he has never demonstrated a physical edge to his game.

He obviously has a lot of time to develop yet, but I think fans who expected him to emerge as an elite two-way defender should temper their expectations.

[GranteedEV]

Stats don't always tell the whole story...

10 PIM
-6
44.2% CF

Here, they nearly tell the whole story.

[flylock shox]

Young, great skater, looks able to rush the puck, but sorely lacking a physical game and still out of sync with the rest of the team.

The chemistry will come but hopefully Hamilton puts the work in himself on the physical and defensive side of the game. Some progress there and he'll be worth his contract. But he's got some work to put in for sure.

[Poe969]

we might as well put him on waiver...his contract is going to be an anchor...


Some people (no one in specific) need to wake up. The entire team has been bad, even Gio. Monahan hasn't been that great and neither has...well anyone except Johnny. Sure Hamilton is getting paid a fair amount but he's also getting paid for potential. He's good and he's going to get better. His contract may look bad (to some, not everyone) now but I'm sure it's going to look amazing in a couple of years. I still think he's a franchise D in a couple of years.

[IgiTang]

Not positionally sound, not hard on the puck, gets caught up ice when trying to make something happen. Tries to make something happen too often. Soft in his own end.

That said, he's young and these are all coachable things. He has the ability to become an absolute stud. I'll admit, I was hoping for more of a Pietrangelo type guy though. Right now, playing more like Bouwmeester.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

He obviously has a lot of time to develop yet, but I think fans who expected him to emerge as an elite two-way defender should temper their expectations.

When he's getting paid 5.75 million a year for the next six years, I don't think it's unreasonable to have legitimate expectations.

[Heavy Jack]

Discussion on Hammer kinda starts and ends with he's played his first 6 games of a 6 year contract. Man CP needs a Flames win desperately.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Poe969

we might as well put him on waiver...his contract is going to be an anchor...


Some people (no one in specific) need to wake up. The entire team has been bad, even Gio. Monahan hasn't been that great and neither has...well anyone except Johnny. Sure Hamilton is getting paid a fair amount but he's also getting paid for potential. He's good and he's going to get better. His contract may look bad (to some, not everyone) now but I'm sure it's going to look amazing in a couple of years. I still think he's a franchise D in a couple of years.

I agree. He looked horrible on Oshie's goal. But aside from that he's been about the same level of bad as Gio, Russell and Wideman, all of whom have had bad starts overall, and incredibly boneheaded moments.

He's had one half and 2 full seasons. He's about at the same point when both Iginla and Regehr really struggled IIRC, but then both of those guys really figured it out. Combined with a different system, different patrner and different role, he needs some time. Obviously he has some weak areas as faras decision making and physical platy, but even with his problems he's obviously got a good skill set.

[ComixZone]

Engelland and Kulak have been our least terrifying defensive pairing so far this year because they're keeping things simple.

Hamilton, Giordano, Russell and Wideman have all gotten off to terrible starts. Hamilton is 22 years old playing top pairing minutes. Giordano, Russell and Wideman are much more of a concern in my eyes than Hamilton is at this stage.

It has been 6 games where the team play has been beyond horrific. That is not Hamilton's fault, and CP's desire to villainize individual players is sickening.

This team wowed us all for 93 games last season. It has taken 6 games to completely unravel that for some of you, which is beyond silly.

This is year 3 of a freaking rebuild. This is a process, trust it.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by jar_e

When he's getting paid 5.75 million a year for the next six years, I don't think it's unreasonable to have legitimate expectations.

Well, nowadays kids are getting paid for future production and potential. But what are legitimate expectations?

New team, system, coach, d-partner, contract and serious pressure.

I think we as a fan base need to have reasonable expectations. I think he is individually as good as Brodie. But he was playing with a guy that by the time Dougie would have turned over the puck, his partner had barely made it to the red line and was able to cover him. Now, he needs to learn to play with a entire D-core that plays the same type of game as him. It takes time to know when to and when not to.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by jar_e

When he's getting paid 5.75 million a year for the next six years, I don't think it's unreasonable to have legitimate expectations.

Even 1 year into a young defenceman's 6 year contract is premature to judge if he's worth the money.

6 games is... something.

EDIT: Contract aside, give him time. Hedman broke out at 22 after 4 years in the league, he wasn't amazing before that. Hamilton has played 2.5 seasons and is also just 22. New teams and new systems (and a team that is playing horribly) is hard for any defenceman. Worse for a kid.

[TurdFerguson]

Originally Posted by jar_e

When he's getting paid 5.75 million a year for the next six years, I don't think it's unreasonable to have legitimate expectations.

Expectations are fine, but lets give the guy a chance to build a reasonable body of work before we pull out our report cards. 6 games is not enough to question the long-term view of a player or his contract.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Stats don't always tell the whole story...

10 PIM
-6
44.2% CF

Here, they nearly tell the whole story.

And those 10 PIMs have not been good, tough PIMs. For the most part the have been bad penalties at bad times.

Patience everyone re: Hamilton. He's been brutal (yes, brutal) but in the big picture I am not overly concerned. He showed a bit of emotion last night which was good to see, super frustrated going to the box one time. Then in the 3rd period he actually took the puck straight to the net, all else be damned. Was good to see that.

[N-E-B]

Hamilton will be fine

[burn_this_city]

Bit uppity really..

Being serious I think he's trying to be all world instead of playing safe while he's learning the new system. He needs half a season or longer before we get a good indication what he's capable of. He seems like a nice kid, hopefully his confidence isn't shot if he struggles for a bit.

[IgiTang]

The thread title should have a caviate that Dougie Hamilton is not allowed to read this thread if he ever comes onto CP.

[SuperMatt18]

I think he needs to simplify things and slow it down a bit.

Hasn't been great in his own end but defensively they are all running around in their own zone. Hamilton, Gio, Russell, and Wideman have all been playing poor positional defense. Personally I feel that they are all trying to do too much defensively, and it's leading to mistakes and poor positions. It also seems to get worse after we get scored on, as I feel they are trying to overcompensate for poor goaltending.

Offensively and in transition, he has shown flashes of brilliance. Great skater, good shot, strong with the puck. Needs to be better at picking his spots as he has gotten caught up ice but the potential is there.

He does need to fill out that frame and get stronger, and play more physical. Hopefully he can develop that side of the game.

I think we forget is only 6 months younger than Kulak (3 months younger than Wotherspoon), so still lots of room to grow and develop.

[FBI]

I remember when Colborne first came here, he was really weak on the physical play too and he has much improved there.. Wonder if Hamilton is interested in being more physical though?

[CsInMyBlood]

Always earned, never given.

Hamilton has been given Gio as a partner and top pairing minutes. Time for him to go down to the 3rd pairing and earn his ice. I have no doubts he can and will earn it, but he has earned zero at this point.