Yeah, I'm not a Russell hater, but he struggled last night.
I thought Hamilton's game was fine - not stellar, but not noticeable in a bad way either.
He took a wrist shot from the left side that picked the corner perfectly. I was looking right over his shoulder from my seats and could see the open corner too. Puck was going in and hit Jones' butt-end even though Jones was completely out of position and never saw it.
I believe that shot would have tied the game and then people would be talking about him having a great game.
Like everyone, I wish he was more physical and more aggressive, but I do believe that is coming (slowly). What I know for sure is that he has a great wrist shot.
He took a wrist shot from the left side that picked the corner perfectly. I was looking right over his shoulder from my seats and could see the open corner too. Puck was going in and hit Jones' butt-end even though Jones was completely out of position and never saw it.
I believe that shot would have tied the game and then people would be talking about him having a great game.
Yeah, that was crazy.
I think it would have been a 4-3 go ahead goal for us at the time even.
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No because this is simply not true. Hamilton and Wideman looked solid defensively last night.
Hamilton: It was the little things he did, bad play making decisions, no effort to fight for the puck, leisurely standing around the boards, no hitting, weak passes and outlet plays (maybe one or two worked), causally skating around, barely moving, lazily gliding to get off the ice, it was like he just didn't care.
I watched him shift after shift, the 1st period was his worse.
Then the coach and everyone else here too? Yeah, maybe. Or maybe you're just wrong.
Fine, I must of been seeing something else...
I haven't called out a player like this in years, something about him last night just irked me the wrong way. When watching a game at the dome, you have the ability to focus on certain players, not what the TV airs.
I haven't called out a player like this in years, something about him last night just irked me the wrong way. When watching a game at the dome, you have the ability to focus on certain players, not what the TV airs.
I was also at the dome.
I wasn't watching him every shift like you seemed to be though.
I did see as Enoch mentioned, he snapped a shot high blocker that would have been the go-ahead goal, but it hit the knob of Jones' stick who didn't even see the shot and knocked it out of his hands. Horrible luck.
I haven't called out a player like this in years, something about him last night just irked me the wrong way. When watching a game at the dome, you have the ability to focus on certain players, not what the TV airs.
I was at the game too, didn't notice him in a bad way last night.
He does play with a very "effortless" style though, which makes him look like a guy that doesn't appear to be going all out every shift.
IMO it looks like he is still trying to find the right balance in his role on the back-end here.
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I haven't called out a player like this in years, something about him last night just irked me the wrong way. When watching a game at the dome, you have the ability to focus on certain players, not what the TV airs.
I suggest getting glasses or updating your current prescription. Sure you were watching #27?
For me, I think Backlund suits the 3rd line role and Stajan the 4th pretty well. Issue is, both of them are overpaid for what they are being asked to do and it does highlight that we are badly missing a 2nd line centre or someone that can rival Monahan for the 1st. If we had that player, we could drop both Backlund and Stajan down to roles that suit their abilities. But we need that 2nd line centre, badly.
I hope starting next year we are running with Jankowski and Arnold in the bottom six and Backlund and Stajan are out the door for cap savings.
Dougie Hamilton may never be the hard rocking Regher ever was, but I've actually seen him grow more physical than what he was at the beginning of the year.
Would like to see Bennett at center and Granlund on his wing. Allows Bennett to use his creativity and Granlund to use his shot more.
I know lots of people want to see this. But Hartley is trying to win and Granlund is more developed as a centre. Also the reason why Bennett is better at wing is because he's physical and can win board battles. Granlund doesn't have the same ability to win puck battles in hard places, he's smaller and softer.
I actually see why Hartley uses Granlund at centre and Bennett on the wing. I think Treliving will have to move one of our centres if we want Bennett at centre. Personally I think one of Backlund or Granlund could be dealt before next season.
