Sean Maloughney: Can Holland Fit Dougie Hamilton Into The Oilers Cap Plan?

Could have, if only McDavid wasn't so greedy in needing every last dollar

I would make the argument that you have it backwards. Jaccob Slavin makes Hamilton better and not Hamilton makes Slavin better. Dougie has lots of defensive lapses poaching in the offensive zone. Slavin makes up for that by allowing Dougie to be risky and covering the potential breakaways. Outside of Canes fans who watch him every night, there are not many people who truly appreciate how good Slavin is as a defenseman.

Dougie is talented and worthy of a good contract somewhere, but he needs to be paired with a defenseman who can clean up his defensive mistakes and allow him to do his thing in the offensive zone. Without a shut down defenseman to pair him with you will be disappointed. He is not a shut down defenseman.

If you want the same dman as Hamilton spend the money on Barrie and save 2+ million. Slaving made that pairing not Dougie. Dougie is gonna get 8+. Barrie should settle in at about 6-6.5. Neither is a need in EDM. If Barrie liked his time he can sign in EDM for about 4 years at 6 per. If he just wants the money he can find someone willing to go 6yr 7M per. His call.

Can EDM afford either sure. But they can't handcuff their future with either.

If you want the same dman as Hamilton spend the money on Barrie and save 2+ million. Slaving made that pairing not Dougie. Dougie is gonna get 8+. Barrie should settle in at about 6-6.5. Neither is a need in EDM. If Barrie liked his time he can sign in EDM for about 4 years at 6 per. If he just wants the money he can find someone willing to go 6yr 7M per. His call.

Can EDM afford either sure. But they can't handcuff their future with either.
- wreckage

Well said.

Re-signing Barrie is a more common sense solution for the Oil. You know his production with the team and he will be less expensive so the Oil can invest elsewhere, like in a better goalie!

Dougie would be on his 4th team before 30. I realize that’s not too unusual for a replacement level player, but I can’t think of a recent comparable where a top line dman has been on that many teams before the Big 3-0. Are their attitude issues with Dougie?

If you want the same dman as Hamilton spend the money on Barrie and save 2+ million. Slaving made that pairing not Dougie. Dougie is gonna get 8+. Barrie should settle in at about 6-6.5. Neither is a need in EDM. If Barrie liked his time he can sign in EDM for about 4 years at 6 per. If he just wants the money he can find someone willing to go 6yr 7M per. His call.

Can EDM afford either sure. But they can't handcuff their future with either.
- wreckage

Hamilton puts up points at a similar rate of Barrie but scores more goals and unlike Barrie, Dougie actually plays defense.

Also looking at the line combo, when paired together here are the numbers for Slavin and Hamilton (total of 766 minutes)
CF%: 55.97%
GF%: 64.15%
xGF% 56.77%

Now here is Slavin without Hamilton (total of 208 minutes)
CF%: 47.90%
GF%: 47.83%
xGF% 43.97%

And Hamilton without Slavin (total of 172 minutes)
CF%: 56.27%
GF%: 53.85%
xGF% 55.51%

The duo worked great together but going back the last three seasons of them playing together it's the same case. I agree regardless that Edmonton can't handcuff themselves but Hamilton is one of the best defensemen in the league.

If Hamilton was willing to sign for 8 million he would already have a new 8y contract in Carolina.

Dougie would be on his 4th team before 30. I realize that’s not too unusual for a replacement level player, but I can’t think of a recent comparable where a top line dman has been on that many teams before the Big 3-0. Are their attitude issues with Dougie?
- Only_A_Ladd

There were rumors when he was here that had more to do with his brother playing than anything else. I think Dougie would help the Oilers but not at that cost. Honestly McDavid's contract (although worth every penny) handcuffs putting a proper support cast together.

Hamilton puts up points at a similar rate of Barrie but scores more goals and unlike Barrie, Dougie actually plays defense.

Also looking at the line combo, when paired together here are the numbers for Slavin and Hamilton (total of 766 minutes)
CF%: 55.97%
GF%: 64.15%
xGF% 56.77%

Now here is Slavin without Hamilton (total of 208 minutes)
CF%: 47.90%
GF%: 47.83%
xGF% 43.97%

And Hamilton without Slavin (total of 172 minutes)
CF%: 56.27%
GF%: 53.85%
xGF% 55.51%

The duo worked great together but going back the last three seasons of them playing together it's the same case. I agree regardless that Edmonton can't handcuff themselves but Hamilton is one of the best defensemen in the league.
- freelancer

Great breakdown. Hamilton makes visible defensive mistakes that braindead fans can identify, while they ignorantly ignore many dozen subtle elite plays Hamilton makes. Slavin is a more conservative player so low IQ fans think he's better. Reality is Hamilton is a superior player to Slavin, who is excellent in his own right.

There were rumors when he was here that had more to do with his brother playing than anything else. I think Dougie would help the Oilers but not at that cost. Honestly McDavid's contract (although worth every penny) handcuffs putting a proper support cast together.
- geta02it

McDavid contract isn't the problem. The organization is still suffering from Chiarelli and might never recover from his stupidity. An average NHL fan serving as GM would have had the Oilers as contenders. Only a true moron could screw up as royally as Chiarelli did.

hmm

If Hamilton was willing to sign for 8 million he would already have a new 8y contract in Carolina.
- redseerpf

The Canes are betting that the giant payday isn't out there for him, which is why they're letting his camp talk to teams already.

Hamilton's agent is looking for Pietrangelo money. The Canes are coming in closer to $7 million. They're telling him if he can go find $8+ million then go for it and let them know, but they don't think that's where his market value is.

As for Slavin making Dougie better, I think Slavin being so open and adamant in his exit interviews that he wants Hamilton back says everything. Yes, Slavin covers for some of Hamilton's defensive issues, but Hamilton gets the puck to exactly the right spot at exactly the right time 99% of the time. He's an incredibly gifted player and was easily the team's MVP in 2019.

The Canes are betting that the giant payday isn't out there for him, which is why they're letting his camp talk to teams already.

Hamilton's agent is looking for Pietrangelo money. The Canes are coming in closer to $7 million. They're telling him if he can go find $8+ million then go for it and let them know, but they don't think that's where his market value is.

As for Slavin making Dougie better, I think Slavin being so open and adamant in his exit interviews that he wants Hamilton back says everything. Yes, Slavin covers for some of Hamilton's defensive issues, but Hamilton gets the puck to exactly the right spot at exactly the right time 99% of the time. He's an incredibly gifted player and was easily the team's MVP in 2019.
- BINGO!

I still don’t get the Skjei thing. I’ve even looked deeper into it, he’s decent at zone entry denials and zone exits but sucks at everything else.

Did I miss somewhere that EDM had eliminated an extra $7m in cap? If you believe the cap sites, they show something around $21m, not including Larsson, Nuge and Yamamoto. Or Kahun. Unless you are considering exposing Klefbom and expect him to be taken.

If the reason why Barrie is not being signed is money, then paying more for Dougie makes less sense. Stick with Klefbom (assuming he plays again) and improve the forward depth. No depth up the middle right now. If you keep Draisaitl on the top line, McLeod is your 2C. Yikes.

I still don’t get the Skjei thing. I’ve even looked deeper into it, he’s decent at zone entry denials and zone exits but sucks at everything else.
- Nucker101

i think they were banking on him bouncing back under a new defensive system instead of the run and gun of the Rangers.

It didn't really work. He played well in the playoffs when Slavin was out, but overall he hasn't been worth it.

It was weird then and still is now.

See if you can get Zucker from Pittsburgh (Oilers tried before when he was with the Wild, didn't they?) for McDavid's wing, maybe they'd retain some salary.

See if you can get Zucker from Pittsburgh (Oilers tried before when he was with the Wild, didn't they?) for McDavid's wing, maybe they'd retain some salary.



- ThatDarnCat

1. Zucker has NTC. Bet Edmonton is not a place he'll play for.
2. PIT would probably want your 1st to retain some of his cap hit.

See if you can get Zucker from Pittsburgh (Oilers tried before when he was with the Wild, didn't they?) for McDavid's wing, maybe they'd retain some salary.



- ThatDarnCat

Zucker was trash this season, you'd be better off spending that money on a UFA

Zucker was trash this season, you'd be better off spending that money on a UFA
- Nucker101

Yeah not sure that's the guy you want on his wing

Dougie would be on his 4th team before 30. I realize that’s not too unusual for a replacement level player, but I can’t think of a recent comparable where a top line dman has been on that many teams before the Big 3-0. Are their attitude issues with Dougie?
- Only_A_Ladd

Pronger?

Pronger?
- hello it's me 2050

4 teams by 31 but basically, yeah.

Sean Maloughney: Can Holland Fit Dougie Hamilton Into The Oilers Cap Plan?
- freelancer

it wasn't defense that let the Oilers down in the playoffs against the Jets,
That's funny because I could have sworn that Bear was a D-man and his plethora of giveaways led directly to goals against.

I still don’t get the Skjei thing. I’ve even looked deeper into it, he’s decent at zone entry denials and zone exits but sucks at everything else.
- Nucker101

NUCKER!!!