Confidence in Hamilton

[Hunter9]

Wondering what people's temperature forecasts are for Hamilton next year.

A lot seems up in the air. Big injury, Hughes and powerplay, new coach.

[senryu]

The thing I wonder about is the rumor(fact?) that Jack Hughes dictated that Luke Hughes play with him on PP1. Ideally, we'd want the top unit to be all the best guys, which isn't Luke at the moment. I don't like how NJ spread out PP time 50/50 more or less at the start of the season.

Hamilton for 55-60 pts as a floor seems reasonable. Maybe that's low. I don't think the injury will hold him back. Just a matter of deployment.

[IRSlotsFull]

Coming off an injury isn't necessarily a bad thing - see Filip Forsberg.

Hamilton, however, doesn't have the same upside (I'd surmise).
I think he's likely to perform adequately, but I wouldn't plan on more than 65 games due to prior injury history ('21-'22); good-great when he's in, but I don't expect him to be in & may play at a lesser level from ailments.
I'd compare it to if you think Montour and Ekblad were worth holding onto this season (starting on IR) or maybe McAvoy?
Worth keeping for certain - but not as 'elite' as one would hope for. NJ around him is also 'better' so I think his 'low' end is still in the top 50 defensemen (barring further *major* injury).

[Bubba55]

Hamilton will be fine IF he has fully recovered from the injury. I'm not listening to any of the Luke Hughes and Jack Hughes stuff. People can forecast all they want, the bottom line here is, IMO, if Hamilton is 100% nothing changes. If he's not, well who the hell knows what happens then. If you are OK betting on Hamilton's health not being an issue, then he is clearly your guy. If not, well, he's not.

[Pengwin7]

I do not like big-bodied 30-year olds with major injuries.
Nope, just a nope for me.
(re: "big". It's - engineering/mathematically - easier to break a 8' stick of lumber than a 6' stick of lumber)

We'll see.


For reference, Matt Dumba suffered torn pectoral in Dec. 2018.
One can check his before & after stats from only playing the first 32gp of the 18/19 season:
https://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/2970689/matt-dumba

Dumba's not even a tall guy... and he was humming along as a mid-20s age guy in first part of that season before the injury.

[zambronies]

I’m buying Hamilton right now.

If you believe Jack Hughes demanded Luke play on PP1, you also have to believe that coaching decisions like this hurt the team and got their coach fired.

I personally have sent multiple offers trying to acquire Hamilton, but the owner won’t budge.

[Belexus75]

I’m only worry about JH dictating who plays where here… otherwise Hamilton is still a stud

[Bubba55]

All I can say is the Devils better go hire a coach with some balls who will tell Jack Hughes in no uncertain terms who will play where and when. Not the other way around!

[Belexus75]

All I can say is the Devils better go hire a coach with some balls who will tell Jack Hughes in no uncertain terms who will play where and when. Not the other way around!

well....Keefe called out few studs at beginning of the season, had to retract his comments and then got fired...not sure balls work with superstars.

yes i know he didnt get fired for that, but im sure it didnt help.

[The Comish]

Regarding the PP1 D slot, which D is better defensively? I suspect it's the veteran Hamilton. If I'm the Head Coach, I prefer to maximize Hamilton's ice time in 5 v5 situations over PP when I have a guy who can be PPQB in L. Hughes. Obviously, there is more to consider here, but all things being equal, I'd deploy L. Hughes on the PP and save Hamilton for more defensive type situations. That doesn't mean the the PP will work better with L. Hughes QB'ing, so this one is touch and go for me, especially with a new coach being thrown in the mix.