Hamilton making a name for himself in Boston
By Aaron Bell
He may only be six games into his NHL career with the Boston Bruins but Niagara IceDogs graduate Dougie Hamilton is already making a big impression on his new coach.
Bruins’ coach Claude Julien hasn’t been shy about putting Hamilton into any situation on the ice and has been even less shy with his praise about the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.
“His hockey sense is outstanding, his vision is extremely good,” Julien told the Boston Globe. “We know he’s got the size, the skating, and everything else to play in this league. I think his composure is what seems to be really impressing a lot of people. He’s made some big plays for us.”
Hamilton has picked up four assists in his first four games and is even on the plus-minus sheet while logging more than 18 minutes per game.
Earlier this week, the Bruins informed Hamilton that they intend to keep him all season.
“Right now, to me, he’s not playing like a rookie, he’s not playing like a first-year player,” Julien said. “He’s playing like a player that’s been around for a while.”
Hamilton played 32 games with the IceDogs this season before the NHL lockout ended earlier this month. He was on his way to setting new career highs with eight goals and 41 points in his fourth OHL season.
“You can tell that he has a lot of confidence and a lot of skill,” said Bruins’ veteran Milan Lucic. “You can see why he was a highly touted player before he came to the NHL.”
Hamilton is hoping to follow former OHL netminder Andrew Raycroft as the last Bruin to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year.
Julien says that six-foot-five Hamilton reminds him a lot of Hall of Famer Larry Robinson, who played 20 NHL seasons – mostly with the Montreal Canadiens – after graduating from the Kitchener Rangers in 1971.
“He’s tall, and he’s not going to run anybody through the boards,” Julien said. “But he’s solid and he moves the puck well and sees the play well. I think everybody knows Larry was a pretty good player.”
While Hamilton is making headlines in New England, other former CHL players have also made their NHL debuts recently including Jonathan Huberdeau of the Saint John Sea Dogs, who has a goal and three points in six games with the Florida Panthers.
It was also recently announced that Alex Galchenyuk of the Sarnia Sting is going to stick with the Montreal Canadiens this season. He scored a goal and four assists in his first five games with the Habs and is already playing a regular role. The same goes for Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts who will remain with the Buffalo Sabres and scored his first career goal Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
CHL players Stefan Matteau of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (New Jersey Devils) along with Mark Scheifele of the Barrie Colts (Winnipeg Jets) and Rickard Rakell of the Plymouth Whalers (Anaheim Ducks) also still remain with their NHL teams however may still be returned to their junior clubs.