Standing larger than his reported six-foot-four frame, Dougie Hamilton is used to being the big man on campus.
Having been selected to the Boston Bruins ninth overall, he’ll get the opportunity to develop in Zdeno Chara’s rather large shadow. But instead, imagine what a future pairing of the two could look like to those opposing the Boston Bruins.
Hamilton has.
“That would be pretty special,” the Toronto, ON. native said. “I wouldn’t be the bigger d-partner, that’s for sure. But I’m just going to work as hard as I can in the summer, and hope for that opportunity.”
But what can this towering rearguard add to the Stanley Cup winning team?
“I think I’m a big, complete defenseman and I can skate well,” Hamilton said. “I’m pretty physical, and I make good passes and can contribute offensively as well.”
He’s already sounding like a Boston Bruin, but with an already loaded NHL club, it’s likely that Hamilton could find himself back in Niagara, given the chance to dominate one more season. The thought of another season in the Ontario Hockey League doesn’t bother the 18-year-old.
“I definitely think the OHL is one of the best leagues,” Hamilton said. “They say the CHL is the best development league in the world, so I guess they’re doing something right with the coaches and development.”
Taken with the pick that was originally belonged to the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s been a former Maple Leaf in Mike Van Ryn who’s had the opportunity to be a big influence on the Ice Dogs defenseman.
“He’s just a guy that I can come out basically two years out of the NHL and start teaching kids and he know what’s it takes to get to the NHL,” explained Hamilton. “He’s helped me a lot and kind of told me how I needed to play to make that next step. I think I did well this year with that, and I think there’s a lot of parts of my game that I need to improve on in order to be an NHL player. But I think he’s going to help me with those two.”
If he is sent back to work with Van Ryn, he’ll at least have one more season as the big man.
And that’s not such a bad thing.
Brian Huddle is a Future Considerations correspondant and can be found on Twitter. For all the latest Future Considerations news and posts, follow FC’s Official Twitter Feed, on YouTube and on Facebook!