Calgary Flames top defense pair could have made Team Canada
By Ramina Shlah
NHL players won’t be going to the Olympics this year, but if they were, the Calgary Flames top pairing could have made Team Canada.
In an NHL-less Olympics, we’ll have to continuously wonder what could have been. We already went through Johnny Gaudreau, Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik‘s cases for the Olympics that they won’t be going to. But I mean, there is absolutely no speculation with Gaudreau. He would 100% make Team USA. But what about the Calgary Flames top pairing?
In the 2014 Olympics, before the rosters were announced, there were some deliberations about whether Mark Giordano would make Team Canada. Unfortunately, he did not, but for right reasons (they won the Gold medal). Right now, if NHL players were going to the Olympics, would Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton both make it?
It’s a bit of a reach, but it could work.
A few days ago, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston made an imaginary Team Canada roster ft. NHL players. Dougie and Gio both made it on that third pairing together. Here’s what he said about the reasoning behind it:
"In the past, Team Canada has occasionally been guilty of overthinking the built-in chemistry between NHL teammates. Great players tend not to need much time to find their way with other great players. However, when you have a pairing as dominant Giordano and Hamilton have been for the Calgary Flames, there is a clear benefit in bringing them along as a duo."
But could they have actually both made it? Let’s look at the numbers.
Underlying numbers
Last season, Dougie had a career high in goals (37) and points (50). He finished ninth among defensemen in points and fourth among Canadian defensemen. He credited a lot of his career-high year to Mark Giordano.
Via Calgary Herald:
"“It was definitely a big change from where I started the season. I think I was playing with a bunch of different partners, third-pairings and that kind of thing,” Hamilton said. “I had a bad stretch of games with a lot of minuses. (Gulutzan) put me with Gio and it kind of turned my season around. I tried to make the most of it and take the opportunity.”“I think he’s just so good at everything, I don’t think he has a weakness,” Hamilton said. “Any aspect of the game, he’s good at it. His shot, he’s physical, his skating and he’s smart. Pretty much everything there. He’s a guy I look up to.”"
So far this season, Dougie’s at 22 points and Gio’s at 21. While they’re both not on pace to hit their career-highs, they’re still making impacts on the ice.
In shot attempts (5v5), they’re both in the top five among all skaters. Dougie’s second in the NHL so far this season with 933 and Gio’s fourth with 909. They’re both also in the top ten for scoring chances, Dougie at seventh with 428 and Gio at tenth with 423.
Having Dougie on Team Canada would make sense. And having Gio join him for the reason that Chris Johnston gave also makes sense. With Gio on the ice with him, they have a CF% of 57.53%. When Gio isn’t on the ice with him, his CF% is the second worst at 51.23%. The only player worse is when he’s with Freddie Hamilton, who’s no longer on the team anymore.
If they already have chemistry and have already played a season and a half together, why not pair them up on an international stage?
Next: Three former Flames make Team Canada Olympic roster
These are all what-ifs and we’ll truly never know, but if Dougie continues to improve and reach his prime, and with the other players getting older by the time the next Olympics comes around, we may see Dougie on a first or second pairing at the next Olympics.