Treliving Defends His Player; Hamilton Excited For Future
By Ryan Pike
8 years agoCalgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving and his shiny new signee Dougie Hamilton participated in a conference call with media earlier this afternoon. The duo shared their mutual excitement regarding Hamilton’s six-year commitment in Calgary, and also featured Hamilton trying not to comment on the situation in Boston that led to his trade (and Brad Treliving burying media reports that Hamilton was a bad teammate). As you can see, Hamilton seemed to go out of his way to take the proverbial high road.
Selected quotes from the call after the jump!
Treliving, on where Hamilton will fit on Bob Hartley’s roster:
I just know we haven’t been able to wipe the smile off Bob’s face since Friday, so I’m sure he’s going to find a spot.
Treliving, on the price of getting Hamilton:
He’s just scratching the surface of where he can go. Ultimately, we found out that Dougie was available, we put all of our resources into trying to acquire him, and then the energy into signing him. So we’re happy. We’re more than happy.
Treliving, on the deal’s impact on future contracts (specifically entry-level graduates Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau):
For us, we think now we have a salary structure that fits knowing what the future holds for us with some of the young players that we have on our team. It was part of the consideration… no question, and you’re forecasting into the future beyond the next 12 months and making sure all the pieces are going to fit here. Having said that, every negotiation and every player is different.
Hamilton, on the comments coming out of Boston:
I’m trying not to really pay attention to all that stuff too much. I think that for me, right now, it’s just a lot of excitement. Obviously with getting traded to the Flames and now signing and everything. For me, I’m just really looking ahead at the future and it’s obviously really exciting. I don’t think you can let that stuff bother you too much, or whatever it is. For me, I’m just excited and a pretty happy guy right now.
Treliving, on the comments coming out of Boston:
There’s a lot of things that keep me up at night: the type of person that Dougie is, the type of teammate that he is, is not one of them. We do a lot of research in terms of the player on the ice, the personality. A big part of our success I feel is the culture and the people we have here in Calgary. What makes us excited about this deal is not only the player we’re getting, but the person we’re getting. So there has not been an ounce or a calorie wasted in terms of worrying about the player.
Hamilton, asked why did things broke down in Boston:
I don’t really want to talk about the past too much. I enjoyed my time there. Right now, for me, it’s all my excitement about the future. The last couple days, I’ve just been really excited about this new opportunity, being a Calgary Flame. For me, it’s just really exciting. I’m not really thinking about the past right now. Just looking forward to getting to Calgary and starting a new chapter in my life.
Hamilton, asked how his tenure in Boston ended:
Again, for me, I’m excited to be a Flame. I guess, that’s it for me. I’m just looking forward to it now, like I said. I’m, like I said, really looking forward to getting to Calgary and to playing. I’m looking at the team and the plan that they have there and it’s really exciting. I couldn’t be happier.
Hamilton, asked if he wanted out of Boston:
For me, I’m just going to keep on saying how excited I am to be a Flame and just looking forward to the future and everything. What’s in the past is in the past, and I’m just looking forward to being a Flame, to moving to Calgary, seeing the city and the fans. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it, so I’m just excited for all of that.
Treliving also went on for a bit about how the signing strengthens the blueline and has a ripple effect in terms of helping the rest of the team be better. He referred to the league’s successful teams and how they’re built, and that those teams are strong on the blueline and strong up the middle. He also reiterated that signing Mark Giordano is a top priority, and that he doesn’t anticipate the Flames being the “belle of the ball” in terms of being active in the free agent market in a major way.
(But of course, Treliving being how he is, I’m not sure I’d take that at face value either way…)
In other news:
- Flames pick Rasmus Andersson was named to Sweden’s national team that will compete against a team from Finland and two American junior camp teams at Lake Placid in early August. Oliver Kylington was not named, but his Swedish team AIK begins playing exhibition games on August 13, so I think it’s more of a case that he’ll be tied up there rather than him being overlooked.
- Flames associate coach Jacques Cloutier, and assistant coaches Martin Gelinas and Jamie Pringle have signed contract extensions. Per Eric Francis, they’re two year extensions. Not shocking, and I believe this makes it so the entire coaching staff has their deals expiring following the 2016-17 season.
- Also extended, per Francis, is assistant GM Craig Conroy, also for two years.
- The Flames also announced the Domenic Pittis, who served as the organization’s development coach this season, will join head coach Ryan Huska, assistant coach Todd Gill and goaltending coach Scott Gouthro with the Stockton Heat beginning next season. Pittis had been primarily based in Calgary working with youngsters, scratches and injured players in his previous role.
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