The Calgary Flames are definitely on the up, with multiple players finally hitting their stride. Not least of all, the Calgary Flames big summer acquisition from Boston, defenseman Dougie Hamilton.
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With half the season in the books, Calgary Flames fans can look back at 2015 with fond memories. Ending on the ultimate high note in making the play-offs, our interest was piqued with the acquisition of Dougie Hamilton.
The start of the 2015 season was anything but kind to the 22-year-old; Hamilton showcased significant growing pains in a Calgary Flames jersey. Becoming acclimated to the Calgary Flames system proved to be difficult, as Hamilton bounced around the line-up in search of a suitor.
Since that month and a half stretch, Hamilton has become a fixture on the Calgary Flames second pairing; and now becoming a threat on the power-play. Slowly becoming the player we expected out of the gate.
Dougie Hamilton quietly having a great night. Two points, 100 career points now.
— FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) January 14, 2016
EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING
With this quaint little milestone, we also discover that Dougie Hamilton is playing at a positive 52.6 CF% (+82). Since joining the power-play , Hamilton has amassed a total of 141 Corsi events for the Calgary Flames, while maintaining a fairly high shots through percentage (44 SThr%).
Hamilton’s game has gone from hesitant to dominant seemingly overnight; something the Calgary Flames won’t complain about:
“It was when our team started turning it around sometime near the Anaheim-Phoenix-San Jose road trip when I started playing better and we came home and started winning,”
“It’s tough to pinpoint a turning point — it all kind of blends together. You’ve just got to focus, and I’m trying to improve instead of going the other way,” Hamilton said in an interview with the Calgary Sun’s Eric Francis.
What we do know for sure now, we have not received damaged goods. Hamilton’s rise to form comes in the midst of a record-breaking win-streak; the ultimate resurgence from the NHL’s basement.
Now at 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists) Hamilton has pulled his plus minus rating back to a mere -1. The offensive expectations are now being met with stellar reactionary play in both ends of the ice and he’s quickly becoming a favourite on the blue line for the Calgary Flames.
Next: Flames Winger Frolik Nearing A Return
What do you think of Dougie Hamilton’s improvement in form for the Calgary Flames? Let us know in the comments section below.