Thursday, August 27, 2009

Step It Up: The Dan Hamhuis Edition


Photo by Wes Cunningham. Used with permission.

At the ripe old age of 26 [side note: boy, do I feel old], Dan Hamhuis is the oldest and most NHL-experienced defenseman on the team. Now, when you think of defensemen who really get the job done for us, Dan Hamhuis is not normally the first one to come to mind. Well, at least for me, he’s not. The powerhouse pairing of Ryan Suter and Shea Weber (whom I affectionately refer to as “The Twins”) are my go-to guys for defense. Even just a season ago, I would not have had such great things to say about Suter because I was always disappointed in his effort. BUT, he stepped up his game over the course of the ’08-’09 season and eventually won a first class ticket to my hockey loving heart...and I didn’t even have to call him out. On the other hand, Shea Weber had pretty much already secured himself a place in my heart towards the end of the ’07-’08 season and his performance over this past season just sealed the deal. I LOVE me some Shea Weber.

But poor, poor Dan Hamhuis...maybe he’s too under assuming and soft spoken for me to really turn my attention towards him. The guy has been on our team for years and yet he's never given me reason enough to notice him. At the end of each season, I find myself underwhelmed with his performance on a whole. If you look at his numbers over the past three seasons, the most you can say is that he remains consistent. While staying consistent on a team like the Predators (where their ability to remain consistently inconsistent is a constant thorn in my side) is no small feat; for a defenseman in the prime (one would assume) of his playing years, Hammer should be gearing up for a stellar season. But is he? I’m afraid he might resort to yet another “Mehhh” performance. So what if he’s got a killer hip check? Hip checks don’t get the job done on the blueline. And yes, some could argue that Dan might find it a little harder to be a breakout star this upcoming season now that his defensive partner, Greg Zanon, will be playing for the Wild. But I would argue that now, more than ever, is when Hamhuis finally steps it up and becomes a leader on the ice, right along side Suter and Weber. Young guys like Cody Franson, Teemu Laasko and Alexander Sulzer are ready to fill in the remaining spots left open on the blueline. Their entire NHL careers are ahead of them and I’m sure they are more than willing to show what they can bring to the game. They still play hockey for the love of the game and the pursuit of something they’ve been waiting for their entire lives. I’d like to see a little bit of that spark in Hammer this time around. And do I even need to mention the fact that it's his contract year?!

With the lack of true veteran experience in our defensive core, it is time for someone to take their role a little more seriously. And that someone is Dan Hamhuis.

On a related note: Chris Chelios as a Predator? Umm, I don't think so....
Posted by Rachel at 9:20 AM
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5 comments:

  1. Awww, come on. You can't dismiss Chelios that easily. Three-time Stanley Cup Champion, Multiple Olympiad, and still competitive at 47. He'd be as much an asset on the coaching side as he would a part-time player (he'd never suit up for more than 40 games, I'm sure). That young blue-line could definitely benefit from his leadership. And at a half-mil per season, he's virtually free. He'd be a huge asset to the club, even after he retires from playing.
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  2. No, seriously. Chelios is "eww" inducing for me. I really don't want him on our team. As a coach, fine. But a player, I just can't get behind that.
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  3. So Hamhuis has to seek out the media after the game and give them the sound bite? He needs to cry and slam things when he isn't given the puck on an offensive rush (like our infamous captain does)?

    I don't understand how your conclusion is that Hammer "needs to take his job more seriously." Pretty confident that the guy plays hard every night and stays even keel except when he feels he or his partner receives a cheap shot.

    I would also contend that Weber and Suter are the offensive defensemen. Hamhuis and Zanon played the defensive role of the top 4 last season. So yeah when you go up against Kane/Toews, Datysuk/Zetterberg, or Nash/Umberger every night your stats are going to be as good as the pair that draws the 2nd and 3rd lines.

    I'll contend that Hamhuis is going to have the best season of his career for two reasons. First, it is a contract year and he wants to get paid, just like anyone else. Second and more importantly, he is not going to be paired with Zanon. He is either going to get Suter, Klein, or Sulzer. That in itself will eliminate him always facing the opponent's top line. If Trotz elects to keep Weber and Suter together than they will have to play defense first against the opponent's top line on given nights.

    Everyone wants Hamhuis to score as many goals as Weber or have as many assists as Suter, but what season has he been put in that role. Not last year. The year before you referenced that Suter sucked it up. Well guess who was his partner? Hamhuis.

    There is more to defense than scoring and what a guys +/- is.
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  4. wrandsw, you certainly seem passionate about Hamhuis' ability.

    I never directly called him out on any one thing in particular. I never said he needs to score more goals. I never said he needs a better +/-. I most definitely did not imply that he needed to be a stronger presence in the media with sound bytes and/or temper tantrums. In fact, the only real issue I have with him is his consistent mediocrity. I KNOW he has the ability to have an amazing season, hence why I think he "needs to take his job more seriously" based on his past seasons performance.

    I don't dislike the guy and have no personal vendetta against him. If you were looking for commentary on the team that is always focused on the positive, then you stumbled upon the wrong blog. I look at things from every angle; the good, the bad and the ugly.

    Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I'm just calling it like *I* see it.
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  5. I don't have a problem calling a spade "a spade." I'll gladly call out Arnott when he takes shifts off. Which he does on a regular basis by the way.

    I have a problem with saying Hamhuis "needs to take his job more seriously." If you are not a close friend of his, how can you say whether or not he "takes his job seriously."

    You would have been better off saying "Hammer, it is time for you to be more productive on the stat sheet." And you did imply that he needs to be more productive on the stat sheet because you referenced his +/- stat as reason you feel he has played in a constant level of mediocrity for the last two years.

    I'm personally glad that not every Pred fan is "drinking the kool-aid that makes you believe Poile and Trotz are beyond making a mistake."

    But don't question a players commitment to how seriously he takes being a hockey player. I question players laziness and effort every night, but I have no knowledge of their level of seriousness. I would argue that Arnott takes being a captain very seriously, but I don't think he is a good captain.

    Continue on with calling it as you see it. I just found it ridiculous that you question a players seriousness.
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