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1) Remember when Dougie Hamilton was the subject of all kinds of trade rumors and many backed the idea of moving him because he was soft, not a fit in the Western Conference and all kinds of other garbage?
Well, it's a good thing the Calgary Flames didn't listen to that nonsense and held onto him because he's been their best defenseman and, perhaps, player this season.
Hamilton is quietly on pace for 12 goals, 50 points and 230+ shots on the year while also driving play and posting fantastic underlying numbers (the Flames control 55% of the shot attempts with him, 48% without him).
In terms of 5v5 rate stats, Hamilton is pretty much as good as it gets. He is 3rd in 5v5 goals per 60, 2nd in 5v5 points/60, and 1st in 5v5 shots per 60.
If he actually played the minutes he deserved all season long (he averages 19:32, 4th among Flames' defensemen) his counting numbers would be even more impressive.
He is well worth the $5.75 million he's pulling in. If anything, his play this season would make him underpaid.
2) If you had told me prior to the year that through 46 games Monahan would have 25 points and T.J. Brodie and Mark Giordano would have nine points combined at 5v5 (Deryk Engelland has eight, for comparison) I'd have thought the Flames would be at or near the bottom of the league. Yet here they are currently possessing the top wild card spot.
If anything, I'd say it's very encouraging that the Flames continue to win games despite several key players underperforming. Assuming these guys are healthy, it's only a matter of time before they get hot and start producing at the level we know them to be capable of. If and when that happens, the Flames are going to be very dangerous.
3) Another thing that bodes well for the Flames: they're the 3rd best possession team in the league over their last 14 games. If they can keep their head above water at even-strength, they should be in very good shape with the way their special teams are playing.
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