Spector: Kris Russell would net a 2nd line forward for sure

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Poe969

8 games in and some are ready to write players off. Is he not playing up to expectations or are some of the expectations people had just too much?

I mean it's been 8 games and he hasn't even hit the 40 point mark!

Pfff what is wrong with you? Why would you bring logic and common sense to the discussion? You have to PANIC, man!

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Not to say the Flames should start writing the contract but 4M doesn't seem insane by any means considering the the responsibilities he was assigned to and kind of play he had throughout last year as a result of it.

Main problem is, being a middle pairing kind of guy, he's not going to get that kind of money from a team like ours who has or will spend most of the money on our core with the outside pieces better fiscally managed with ELCs.

As much as it's not his fault, I don't like the idea of signing a defenseman that isn't 6-0 and isn't Torrey Krug to a long term 4+ million dollar contract.

The Flames defense has to deal with a lot of tall players in our division. Someone smaller can't work as easily with them. The Flames need guys that are closer in size to Hamilton than Russell. Ideally the Flames could target some larger D-men that can play through trade, but how often do those come up.

Ps: I know Gaudreau is on the team but forwards don't have the same responsibility for defense.

The Flames can make do with Gio, Wideman, Brodie, Hamilton with Smid/Engelland/Nakladal/Kulak/Morrison/Wotherspoon taking up the remainder of the minutes if they need to. The Flames can target someone else in the offseason that more fits with what the Flames need (someone larger that can play defense effectively)

[Vinny01]

Give me a break. Hamilton is 22 and people are Ricardow is writing him off. Brodie wasn't even a full time nhler at the same age let alone putting up 40+ points in a single season already.

New team, big contract, new expectations. Give the kid a freaking break

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

And that's why he should be traded. I like Russell, but that is insane for what he brings. The Flames can make do without him and they do have guys that are very close to making the team.

Not sure how Flames can make do without him. Flames are in the basement of the league already. Trading away a coveted D-man would not be wise.

To me the only defense candidates for trade are Smid, Engelland and Wideman. Russell is on the right side of 30. Trading him would be a big mistake. Having said that, until one of Nakladal, Kulak or someone else is CLEARLY ready to play 10-12 NHL minutes a night, do not trade Wideman or Engelland.

[MoreDrank]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Russell is better than Hamilton. Hamilton might bring back a better return if the magic beans mystic holds out.

Beginning to see why Boston was not ready to sign Hamilton to the money (and term) that Hamilton wanted. They could have had him as the cornerstone of their rebuild. They had been watching him every day for 4 years and were willing to dump him for a 1st and 2 2nds.

Somebody that is supposed to be a top 2 D-man does not need a 2 months to adapt to different players and systems. It was like a switch went off in Gio when he got to play with Wideman rather than Hamilton, The Gio of the last couple of games is vastly better than the Gio that played 6 games with Hamilton.

Perhaps he can grow into a top-4 guy, but he is not close to expectations. 10% of the Flames season has gone.


It seem that Hamilton has the Phanuef-lite package of size, skill and shot that got him to the NHL but a lack of hockey IQ/instinct that will keep him as a secondary player and not be able to contribute to team success by playing to his potential.

Some men just want to watch the world burn.



Shine on crazy diamond, shine on!

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Poe969

8 games in and some are ready to write players off. Is he not playing up to expectations or are some of the expectations people had just too much?

I mean it's been 8 games and he hasn't even hit the 40 point mark!

Hamilton is -8 in 8 games. He isn't doing anything positive , running a PP, carrying the puck, hitting. He looks like he is a 22 NHL rookie in over his head, There have been little to none flashes of brilliance. If he wasn't signed for 34.5M we would be talking about some AHL seasoning for him to find his game.

When Brodie comes back Hamilton will firmly in the bottom 2 ice time.

He has a very limited sample in Boston where he was a top-4 d-man.... basically on a team that was forced to play him up the line up.

If the Flames are going to pull the trigger on dumping a top D-man they should be looking at whether Hamilton is a the cornerstone d-man they thought he was . It won't be easy to get a Russell-calibre player back when he is gone.

The Flames do not have a lot (any) of d-men knocking at the door. Kulak was the best of a a very weak unready group. Hartley had minimal confidence in him and gave him less ice-time than Schlemko/Diaz .

[codynw]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Russell is better than Hamilton. Hamilton might bring back a better return if the magic beans mystic holds out.

Beginning to see why Boston was not ready to sign Hamilton to the money (and term) that Hamilton wanted. They could have had him as the cornerstone of their rebuild. They had been watching him every day for 4 years and were willing to dump him for a 1st and 2 2nds.

Somebody that is supposed to be a top 2 D-man does not need a 2 months to adapt to different players and systems. It was like a switch went off in Gio when he got to play with Wideman rather than Hamilton, The Gio of the last couple of games is vastly better than the Gio that played 6 games with Hamilton.

Perhaps he can grow into a top-4 guy, but he is not close to expectations. 10% of the Flames season has gone.


It seem that Hamilton has the Phanuef-lite package of size, skill and shot that got him to the NHL but a lack of hockey IQ/instinct that will keep him as a secondary player and not be able to contribute to team success by playing to his potential.

The Bruins did offer Hamilton a contract that was very similar to the one Calgary offered. He didn't want to sign it.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Russell is better than Hamilton. Hamilton might bring back a better return if the magic beans mystic holds out.

Beginning to see why Boston was not ready to sign Hamilton to the money (and term) that Hamilton wanted. They could have had him as the cornerstone of their rebuild. They had been watching him every day for 4 years and were willing to dump him for a 1st and 2 2nds.

Somebody that is supposed to be a top 2 D-man does not need a 2 months to adapt to different players and systems. It was like a switch went off in Gio when he got to play with Wideman rather than Hamilton, The Gio of the last couple of games is vastly better than the Gio that played 6 games with Hamilton.

Perhaps he can grow into a top-4 guy, but he is not close to expectations. 10% of the Flames season has gone.


It seem that Hamilton has the Phanuef-lite package of size, skill and shot that got him to the NHL but a lack of hockey IQ/instinct that will keep him as a secondary player and not be able to contribute to team success by playing to his potential.

Originally Posted by Poe969

8 games in and some are ready to write players off. Is he not playing up to expectations or are some of the expectations people had just too much?

I mean it's been 8 games and he hasn't even hit the 40 point mark!

You guys are both right. Hamilton has been horrible AND expectations were too high.

[Yoho]

Yet somehow Hamilton scored 10 goals and 32 assists last year as a 21 yr. old.

Why don't we waive him and see if he gets past the first team?

This entire "team" is not playing well right now, stop focusing on one player.

[The Yen Man]

Nice to see the usual Chicken Littles emerge after the team struggles a little. Hamilton worth a bit more than magic beans? Give me a break. He's only been a Flame for less than 10 regular season games, and is freaking 22 years old. Some people just have no patience whatsoever, and just want panic moves made when the team faces the slightest adversity.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Some people just have no patience whatsoever do they, and just want panic moves made when the team faces the slightest adversity.

Exactly. The lack of patience of some users has been demonstrated in the Jankowski threads over the years, for example.

As a fanbase, we have been extremely lucky that Monahan and Gaudreau produced right from the starts of their NHL careers. Could you imagine if they had struggled 1-2 years?

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Give me a break. Hamilton is 22 and people are Ricardow is writing him off. Brodie wasn't even a full time nhler at the same age let alone putting up 40+ points in a single season already.

New team, big contract, new expectations. Give the kid a freaking break

Brodie was a fully time NHLer at 22 in 2012-13 playing 20:13 / game for the whole season.

Brodie has never in his career put together as miserable 8-game streak as bad as Hamilton's first 8 Flames games.

Do you really think it would take Brodie 8 games to adapt to a different team's system?

There also is a difference in writing him off and embracing him as the #1/2 d-man for the next 6 years.

There is a limited run-way where Hamilton will retain high value.

He wasn't signed for the big contract as a prospect... for 5.75M / year he is supposed to be a lot better than he is playing.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Hamilton is a 22 year, who was brought here as a long term move. It's fair if people are dissapointed in his terrible start in his first 8 games as a Flame, that's fair ball.

Anyone who is discussing getting rid of him based on these past 8 games, or willing to already discuss the potential of him being a bust has lost their mind and perspective on player development, and likely lost their perspective as to what the goals for this hockey team should be this season.

[Vinny01]

No kidding henisnsupposed to be better but everyone not named Gaudreau needs to be better.

It happens so often in sports where a guy gets a big contract and stumbles out of the gate. The guy played far better as a 21 year old than any Flames Dman has at that age since Phaneuf. It is beyond ridiculous suggesting the flames trade him right now. The coaching staff needs to work with him no doubt and he has to get better.

You just have a hate on for soft spoken big body smooth skating defensemen. You hated Bouwmeester now you hate Dougie

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Hamilton is a 22 year, who was brought here as a long term move. It's fair if people are dissapointed in his terrible start in his first 8 games as a Flame, that's fair ball.

Anyone who is discussing getting rid of him based on these past 8 games, or willing to already discuss the potential of him being a bust has lost their mind and perspective on player development, and likely lost their perspective as to what the goals for this hockey team should be this season.

You sir are totally correct. Our ultra-man Gio has looked less than stellar to start the season. Our 56 point D-man from last year has also looked out of sorts at times this year.

Were people expecting Hamilton to play 82 games plus playoffs without any hiccups in play? Brodie didn't turn into a top 2 man until he was 24. Gio took even longer. There is a problem with team play and systems right now, and it's not all on Hamilton. Trade talk is absurd. Let's weather the storm, get back to the fundamentals and basics and claw your way out of the hole.

Ignore Spector and Cox and others calling for the need for Brad to do drastic and blockbuster trades. There's a reason those guys are writing silly columns and aren't managing an NHL team. (Hint: a lot of times they are out to lunch in their analysis).

The Flames aren't the Blackhawks. There will be some bumps in the road. Look at the Kings. Defending Cup champs who missed the dance the following year. It happens and with guys like Brad and Bob at the helm, things will be alright.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Nice to see the usual Chicken Littles emerge after the team struggles a little? Hamilton worth a bit more than magic beans? Give me a break. He's only been a Flame for less than 10 regular season games, and is freaking 22 years old. Some people just have no patience whatsoever do they, and just want panic moves made when the team faces the slightest adversity.

another 8 equivalent games from Hamilton and the Flames are out of the 2015-16 playoffs.

Chances are that Hamilton's ice time get cut to less than 15 when Brodie returns. Hartley has seen the same thing as I (and anyone watching the games) and Hamilton , not Russell or Wideman is the guy losing ice time.

Why did Boston not sign him for basically the money and term that he got from the Flames??

They would have had the best evaluations of his abilities and were not going to sign him. They decided they would rather sign Krug on a 3.4M 1 year deal than Hamilton long term. Ie it wasn't because they couldn't find cap space.

[jaikorven]

^^ Not correct. They offered close to the same contract and Hamilton refused to sign it.

[Vinny01]

Boston offered him 6 years at $5.5M per and Hamilton wanted out common knowledge but don't let that get in the way of the spin job you are trying to pull

[codynw]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

another 8 equivalent games from Hamilton and the Flames are out of the 2015-16 playoffs.

Everyone but Gaudreau sucks right now. Why are you singling out Hamilton?

[Yoho]

If possible can we get this back on the thread title Kris Russell?

(And just pray that Hamilton has a decent next 8 games so his value isn't worthless)