If he needs a better partner to be a top 4 defenceman, he probably shouldn't be getting paid 6 million.
- Hunkulese

I'd like to see D men at his age with comparable contracts play with grossman and jokipakka ...maybe an engelland ...

If he needs a better partner to be a top 4 defenceman, he probably shouldn't be getting paid 6 million.
- Hunkulese

You dumb dude!

I'd like to see D men at his age with comparable contracts play with grossman and jokipakka ...maybe an engelland ...
- Redmile247

Engs has been good. Lay off him!!

But I agree with your point.

I agree with this, for the most part. However, how Gio and Brodie benefit and support each others style and give each other confidence, Hamilton would certainly benefit from a soul mate of sorts himself. Especially as a 23 year old who is still very much growing and learning the game.
- TandA4Flames

If you agree with that then you must think monahan and Johnny are overpaid too ...chiasson is the forward version of grossman engelland jokipakka ...hard to play with

Engs has been good. Lay off him!!

But I agree with your point.
- Clyde334

He's been good for what is expected ...but he still can't be in the ice as much as he is or you are in trouble .

He's been good for what is expected ...but he still can't be in the ice as much as he is or you are in trouble .
- Redmile247

Not his fault he's on the ice too much. When he is though, for the most part he's been okay... the only reason he gets ripped so much is the money he makes. How is that his fault? He's the only guy that will hold other teams accountable. Not having that would be awful.

He's been good for what is expected ...but he still can't be in the ice as much as he is or you are in trouble .
- Redmile247

And.... lol! He's been good for what is expected...

That sounds like he's earning his money. Lol

And.... lol! He's been good for what is expected...

That sounds like he's earning his money. Lol
- Clyde334

Don't get me wrong ...I like him on the team ...but when Deryk engelland is playing over 20 minutes a night you won't be winning many games ...he is a 6-7 guy at best

Not his fault he's on the ice too much. When he is though, for the most part he's been okay... the only reason he gets ripped so much is the money he makes. How is that his fault? He's the only guy that will hold other teams accountable. Not having that would be awful.
- Clyde334

That why I like him to dress ...so guys know if they do anything boarderline they will have to answer ...I just don't want him out there as much as he has been

That why I like him to dress ...so guys know if they do anything boarderline they will have to answer ...I just don't want him out there as much as he has been
- Redmile247

Yeah I know what you mean. It's pretty sad how the team is playing in general.

If you agree with that then you must think monahan and Johnny are overpaid too ...chiasson is the forward version of grossman engelland jokipakka ...hard to play with
- Redmile247

Naw, those 2 earned those contracts over the last 3 and 2 years respectively. Although, you cant really say they've been earning it so far this year. And yea, Chiasson has not been a fit with them.

Yeah I know what you mean. It's pretty sad how the team is playing in general.
- Clyde334

It is ...if they are going to be bad then I don't want to see things like chiasson on the top line or Hamilton getting less minutes than engelland ...GG seems to be trying to make all the lines and parings as equal as possible ... id rather see less balance and load up lines ...he's stuck with his pairs up front ...it's not working ...

Naw, those 2 earned those contracts over the last 3 and 2 years respectively. Although, you cant really say they've been earning it so far this year. And yea, Chiasson has not been a fit with them.
- TandA4Flames

I'm not worried about the big two ...even if they struggle this year they are good players and will get better ...I've never seen a player get an opportunity for such a long stretch like chiasson ...

I'm not worried about the big two ...even if they struggle this year they are good players and will get better ...I've never seen a player get an opportunity for such a long stretch like chiasson ...
- Redmile247

Mason Raymond played second line for half of the season last year and was sent down with only one assist on the year.

I'm not worried about the big two ...even if they struggle this year they are good players and will get better ...I've never seen a player get an opportunity for such a long stretch like chiasson ...
- Redmile247

At first I thought it could work. Chiasson's size could make room for the other 2 to do their skill thing and he could clean up by getting to the net. But he just isn't a glue for those 2 like Hudler was. In no way am I supporting getting Huds back but I think more than size, Johnny and Mony need another play-making sort to break up the attention on them.

I agree with OG ...this team has improved possession each year in the past 3 ...if you would have told me last year we would go into Chicago twice and St.louis and be the dominant team I wouldn't have believed you ...the main issue with this team is special teams and turnovers ...they keep losing both battles

There's no way they trade Hamilton ...they need another top 4 D IMO ...jokipakka...grossman ...and engelland have been issues ...Dougie has terrible numbers but has played a lot with those 3 ...if he had an actually top 4 as a partner things would look better ...kulak has been very good actually besides last game

Chiasson had to go back to a spot where he belongs ...top line is not that place
- Redmile247

Dougie has played lots of games this season on Gio's pairing.

Mason Raymond played second line for half of the season last year and was sent down with only one assist on the year.
- fry

The biggest issue with trying to find a partner for Dougie this year is the pending expansion draft. As soon as we find something that really works, it'll likely be broken up as true #4 would likely be taken next June.

Next year, though, after dumping some big and terrible contracts, we'll have freedom to add these things. 2 WAS Capitals that CGY could try to sign as UFA's next summer...Oshie and Alzner. How nice would a left shooting and defensive minded Alzner look beside Hamilton?

At first I thought it could work. Chiasson's size could make room for the other 2 to do their skill thing and he could clean up by getting to the net. But he just isn't a glue for those 2 like Hudler was. In no way am I supporting getting Huds back but I think more than size, Johnny and Mony need another play-making sort to break up the attention on them.
- TandA4Flames

I was willing to give him a shot ...but the time has passed ...give someone else a shot

Dougie has played lots of games this season on Gio's pairing.
- fry

He has ? Feels like everytime I see him it's with other guys

The biggest issue with trying to find a partner for Dougie this year is the pending expansion draft. As soon as we find something that really works, it'll likely be broken up as true #4 would likely be taken next June.

Next year, though, after dumping some big and terrible contracts, we'll have freedom to add these things. 2 WAS Capitals that CGY could try to sign as UFA's next summer...Oshie and Alzner. How nice would a left shooting and defensive minded Alzner look beside Hamilton?
- TandA4Flames

The biggest issues are that he's a ginger named Dougie...

The biggest issue with trying to find a partner for Dougie this year is the pending expansion draft. As soon as we find something that really works, it'll likely be broken up as true #4 would likely be taken next June.

Next year, though, after dumping some big and terrible contracts, we'll have freedom to add these things. 2 WAS Capitals that CGY could try to sign as UFA's next summer...Oshie and Alzner. How nice would a left shooting and defensive minded Alzner look beside Hamilton?
- TandA4Flames

This thought process and idea I like

Do we, and of course Ek, have this Hamilton to MTL for DD thing all wrong? Could it actually be DD for Wideman? There's been talk of MTL looking to add to their D, someone that could eat some more minutes from Weber and Markov. Maybe not ideal but Wideman does usually play more than 20 minutes per game. Plus both he and DD are on their final years of their contracts. CGY needs to try to add a fit to the top 6 and if MTL wants D...?

If a guy like Hamilton gets traded, from MTL I'd want to see the top 4 covered and the top line RW filled. Something like Hamilton for Mccarran and Petry. Maybe we add something else but unless the return is of similar value, why do it from CGY's end?

I'd like to see D men at his age with comparable contracts play with grossman and jokipakka ...maybe an engelland ...
- Redmile247

There's a salary cap. When you're the 18th highest paid defenceman in the league, you don't get to use age as an excuse anymore and you should be an effective player no matter who you're with.

If he was making 3 million, there'd be no issues.

There's a salary cap. When you're the 18th highest paid defenceman in the league, you don't get to use age as an excuse anymore and you should be an effective player no matter who you're with.

If he was making 3 million, there'd be no issues.
- Hunkulese

Tell me who in the top 20 paid D men are being paired with healthy scratches and guys who are no longer under contract ...I agree it's part on Hamilton ...but none of the guys in his pay range are playing with the same caliber players he is