[PGT] Disaster on Broadway. Flames fall 4-1

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

At this rate, I wouldn't rule it out. He looks pretty unhappy so far in a Flames jersey.

Seriously? Some of these comments are mind numbing.

The kid is 22.

It's outright painful reading some of these over-reactions.

[doctajones428]

I can't wait for the term "Shooter Tutor" to go away

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Seriously? Some of these comments are mind numbing.

The kid is 22.

It's outright painful reading some of these over-reactions.

Yes, he is 22, but he's also kinda bad. I've seen many better 22 year olds without those kind of contracts.

[FireGilbert]

Leave Dougie Alone!

Seriously though, WTF Flames. I really hope they can put together more than one win in a row at some point.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by vilzeh

Yes, he is 22, but he's also kinda bad. I've seen many better 22 year olds without those kind of contracts.

TJ Brodie was a healthy scratch in the AHL at approximately the same age. Way too soon to be writing him off when he's that age and trying to adjust to a new team and the expectations that come with inking a big contract.

Relax.

[vilzeh]

I know, I know.. The expectations were too high to begin with but if I'm honest: I thought he was more ready than he has been.

It also could be the case of: A defenseman looking good in East then can't transition to West.

[BruceCody]

Brad "Genius" Treliving
Bob "Adams award" Hartley
Dougie "Brilliant" Hamilton

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by BruceCody

Brad "Genius" Treliving
Bob "Adams award" Hartley
Dougie "Brilliant" Hamilton

This Post Is Terrible.

[calgary2220]

I still can't believe they paid Hamilton more then Brodie! Yeah he's young, blah blah if your making 5 million + a year you gotta be better then that. This contract will haunt us.. you watch. Gee you think Boston seen something there!!! Brodie back Friday hopefully!

[Poe969]

Wow, if people are turning on Hamilton already I'd hate to see how they'd react if they were ducks fans.

Dougie is playing like crap right now, no denying it. He isn't always playing like crap though, he's had some good plays but he's also looked lost out there at times. Thing is, so have Wideman, Russell, Backlund, Bennett and just about everyone else. The kid is new to the team and hasn't found chemistry with anyone yet but for some on here to think that the Flames would trade him is just mind bottling.

The entire team is playing bad save 2 or 3 players. It's still a rebuilding year and the team has to improve a lot before they're at where some fans want them to be. If you're turning on a player like Hamilton already, you'd better turn on Bennett too.

[Husky]

Hamilton is young and needs some coaching. People forget JG was sat at one point.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

TJ Brodie was a healthy scratch in the AHL at approximately the same age. Way too soon to be writing him off when he's that age and trying to adjust to a new team and the expectations that come with inking a big contract.

Relax.

Most people aren't writing him off. It is a question of expectations. Brodie wasn't making nearly $6 million at the time and Flames didn't trade their top 3 picks in a deep draft for him.

[Moneyhands23]

I love cp. But right now coming on here is rediculous. Reality is we are in year 3 of a rebuild. Yes it's hard to take as last year was awesome. Lots of new players on the team and young guys. Also a few vets that got contracts they shouldn't have.

I'm cheering for solid efforts every night and some exciting games/growth from the guys!

GFG

[Poe969]

Some people are extremely short sighted here. Hamilton is playing pretty terribly right now but he's still has TONS of potential. When you bring up his contract, you have to realize that it was signed because of what he's going to be, not what he is now. It may be hard for some to think outside of current situation the Flames are it, but Hamilton's contract is more about the future then right now.

And for some of the people saying "Gee you think Boston seen something there!!!" I'm willing to bet that 28 other teams would have given him that contract too if not more.

The team is doing bad right now, the entire team. Some players may be playing well and some (most) aren't. Singling out Hamilton because of what he makes is just ridiculous.

[flambers]

Flames problem last night was not the defense or Hamilton, in my view the main struggle is the lack of offense....

Other than the 1st line no one is scoring in terms of the forwards.

This causes the defense to take chances...

Of course 3rd and 4th goals were soft.... Hiller would like the rebound back for sure

[Yoho]

Can't imagine what this team would look like right now without Johnny to entertain.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Most people aren't writing him off. It is a question of expectations. Brodie wasn't making nearly $6 million at the time and Flames didn't trade their top 3 picks in a deep draft for him.

and fans mismanaging their own expectations is no one's fault but their own.

His salary is effectively a fee we've paid to shortcut the development process. With Brodie, the Flames invested 6 years of development before he turned into an NHL player. Hamilton? We gave up picks, and an inflated salary to obtain a 22 year old defenceman who has already scored 40+ points in a season.

The fact that Hamilton is struggling in a new system is not shocking. He's 22, and he's played one system his entire professional career. The system he's coming to us from was all about puck possession, which as we all know is the complete opposite of our system in Calgary. He is also far from the only player struggling on the back-end. Russell and Giordano have 1 good hockey game between the two of them, and Wideman has been nothing more than hot garbage sprinkled with the occasional offensive burst.

The blinders that some fans are wearing right now when it comes to the overall team game is ridiculous. Our losses are not Hamilton's fault. The issue is systematic (no puck possession), poor goaltending, and horrendously inept offence. Does he share in some of that blame? Of course, but he's not the cause of it, nor can he single handedly it.

Originally Posted by Yoho

Can't imagine what this team would look like right now without Johnny to entertain.

We'd be 0-8-0. Without Johnny, our incredibly inept offence would go from terrible to absolute worst.

[Caged Great]

The Wild signed Ryan Suter a few years ago. Wild fans were flipping out because he was playing like garbage the entire first month he was there. Then he settled in, and has been awesome since.

If Hamilton is playing like this in January, then something is wrong. It isn't really a shock that he is struggling now. Most guys do. Especially when going from a defense first team like the Bruins to a more open transition team like the Flames. It makes a huge difference. You need to make about 300 adjustments in all aspects of your game in order to make it work. Your passes need to go here and here instead of over here and there. If there is open ice, do you skate up into it knowing you'll be covered, or are you risking a 2 on 1. Is your partner putting his passes where you'd like them to be. Do you know where he is and is supposed to be and where he needs you to be.

All of that plus hundreds of other things that he has to not only get, but master, all while playing the best players in the world. And he's 22.

Be patient.

[Resolute 14]

Also, why focus on just Hamiton when guys like Bennett have done nothing and Jooris' only contribution to the team so far has been a series of minor penalties?

We've got five guys out of a 23-man roster playing with any semblance of determination right now. Picking on one guy out of that group of 18 misses the forest for the trees.

[burn_this_city]

The secondary scoring is a bigger issue than the defense. Really hoping Ortio can provide some quality goaltending and things turn around offensively.