Paul Hamilton and his seemingly personal campaign against Dominik Hasek

[matter2003]

On WGR 550 today, they were talking about worst moves of the decade and Paul Hamilton was asked if Hasek's trade was the worst move of the decade or if it was Tom Donahoe's reign of terror. Hamilton responded he had no issues with the Hasek trade because he felt Hasek was at the end of his line the last few years in Buffalo and was the best regular season player the Sabres ever had buy only average in the playoffs. He seemed to hold it against Hasek that he didn't win the Cup single handedly as Hamilton stated Roy had don in Montreal.

 

I didn't remember this being the case, so I went to look it up. In fact, Hamilton is wrong. The last 5 playoff years with the Sabres, Hasek posted the following GAA's and Save Percentages:

 

1.96/.926

2.03/.938

1.77/.939

2.39/.918

2.09/.916

 

and posted a 32-22 win-loss record

 

In the last season, that Hasek was supposedly "all washed up", he posted a 37-24-4 record with a 2.11 GAA and a .921 save percentage along with 11 shutouts, which led the NHL. He ranked 3rd in wins that year, 4th in GAA, and 5th in save percentage. If that is washed up, 90% of the teams in the NHL would love their goalie to post those numbers...

[Eleven]

On WGR 550 today, they were talking about worst moves of the decade and Paul Hamilton was asked if Hasek's trade was the worst move of the decade or if it was Tom Donahoe's reign of terror. Hamilton responded he had no issues with the Hasek trade because he felt Hasek was at the end of his line the last few years in Buffalo and was the best regular season player the Sabres ever had buy only average in the playoffs. He seemed to hold it against Hasek that he didn't win the Cup single handedly as Hamilton stated Roy had don in Montreal.

 

I didn't remember this being the case, so I went to look it up. In fact, Hamilton is wrong. The last 5 playoff years with the Sabres, Hasek posted the following GAA's and Save Percentages:

 

1.96/.926

2.03/.938

1.77/.939

2.39/.918

2.09/.916

 

and posted a 32-22 win-loss record

 

In the last season, that Hasek was supposedly "all washed up", he posted a 37-24-4 record with a 2.11 GAA and a .921 save percentage along with 11 shutouts, which led the NHL. He ranked 3rd in wins that year, 4th in GAA, and 5th in save percentage. If that is washed up, 90% of the teams in the NHL would love their goalie to post those numbers...

 

I didn't hear all of the interview; I heard little snippets. If Hamilton considered as a factor that the Sabres' hands essentially were tied (they couldn't afford to keep Hasek and Hasek insisted that the Sabres would receive only an expendable player in return), then he's right; it was not as bad as Tom Donohoe's reign of terror. Still was a horrible trade. I do NOT recall any discussion at the time that Hasek was "washed up," and Hamilton is dead wrong there. Still, it was a dick move on Dom's part to insist that the Sabres couldn't get anything meaningful in return.

[stenbaro]

I didn't hear all of the interview; I heard little snippets. If Hamilton considered as a factor that the Sabres' hands essentially were tied (they couldn't afford to keep Hasek and Hasek insisted that the Sabres would receive only an expendable player in return), then he's right; it was not as bad as Tom Donohoe's reign of terror. Still was a horrible trade. I do NOT recall any discussion at the time that Hasek was "washed up," and Hamilton is dead wrong there. Still, it was a dick move on Dom's part to insist that the Sabres couldn't get anything meaningful in return.

I remember Hasek went to Coudersport to talk to the Rigas's after the season and when he came back he demanded a trade. I have often wondered to myself if he had an inkling of the trouble that was about to hatch from there ownership after that meeting.. The trade he forced upon them was a devasting one for the Sabes.. They coudve received alot more than what they were forced to agree upon. I often wonder why the league didnt step in and put a stop to that transaction...I have mixed feeliings about Hasek, he was awesome to watch and without him they would not have had the success they had but in the end they still fell short and then he really put the final nail in the coffin with that trade he forced...Many people say he wasnt a playoff goaltender but I disagree. There were many saves he made during that 99 playoff run that kept them in the game and without those they dont even get by the Sens in that first round. I recall the one against Yashin I believe where the ref had to look in his glove to believe he actually saved it..lol

[...]

WTF? So you disagree with Hamilton on his opinion of Hasek - big deal. But it's a "personal campagin against Dominik Hasek"? Could you be more dramatic about your difference of opinion.

 

 

matter2003 and his seemingly personal

 

campaign against Paul Hamilton

[LabattBlue]

Hamilton is a blowhard with an ego to match his head size, who also loves to hear himself talk. :thumbdown:

[matter2003]

WTF? So you disagree with Hamilton on his opinion of Hasek - big deal. But it's a "personal campagin against Dominik Hasek"? Could you be more dramatic about your difference of opinion.

 

Nah, its definitely personal with Hamilton and Hasek...you can just tell by the way Hamilton gets all bent out of shape and the lengths he goes to try and prove his point, that its something more than just an opinion to him. He was really seemingly getting upset about the whole thing when Schopp kept asking him questions about it. I would not be surprised to hear that Hamilton has a dart board with a huge picture of Hasek taped over it...

[shrader]

Have you read a lot of the rants that come up when Hasek is mentioned? Hamilton's not the only one who has a "personal campaign" against the guy.

[end the curse]

Hamilton is a blowhard with an ego to match his head size, who also loves to hear himself talk. :thumbdown:

 

I have to agree...he seems to lack any significant inside knowledge, and is puffed up as a near celebrity expert opinion for reasons unknown. Over time, I have just tuned him out.

[end the curse]

WTF? So you disagree with Hamilton on his opinion of Hasek - big deal. But it's a "personal campagin against Dominik Hasek"? Could you be more dramatic about your difference of opinion.

 

 

matter2003 and his seemingly personal

 

campaign against Paul Hamilton

Time to refill that prescription?

[Cobleskill Fan]

Have you read a lot of the rants that come up when Hasek is mentioned? Hamilton's not the only one who has a "personal campaign" against the guy.

[/q

 

Could it be that one of those two was screwing the other guy's wife and there is now bad blood?

[Taro T]

When Dom put Kelley in a headlock, he signed his own execution as far as the local media were concerned. (And NO I am not implying in any fashion that Dom was even remotely correct in pulling that maneuver.)

 

Leo Roth, a normally reliable reporter, reported that Dom punched Kelley out. According to Kelley he ripped his shirt putting him into a headlock. I trust Jim more than Leo.

 

But after that incident, there is no way any reporter in town would give Dom the benefit of the doubt. He broke the sanctity of the "you don't have to like us, just don't hurt us" routine. (I'm still shocked that it was Kelley who got into an altercation; my money was on Sullivan.)

 

Hasek seems to be a severely flawed person, but he has attempted at times to overcome that (his ~2MM gift to Buffalo area charities being 1 example). He is also the best goaltender to ever play the game. I don't know that I'd ever want to deal with the guy in a social situation, but watching him play goal for the Sabres was a true treat and I appreciate every game I ever got to watch him play for the blue & gold and the Shatanic Goathead.

[inkman]

Hasek seems to be a severely flawed person...I don't know that I'd ever want to deal with the guy in a social situation...

This. He was a great player but there was something seriously wrong with the guy. Most of his teammates were not fond of him, neither was I.

[wonderbread]

Hamilton sucks. He seems bitter and takes things personally. What he lacks in journalistic integrity he makes up for it with that moustache.

[Patty16]

I have to agree...he seems to lack any significant inside knowledge, and is puffed up as a near celebrity expert opinion for reasons unknown. Over time, I have just tuned him out.

 

I never understood that either, why WGR makes him out to be some expert on hockey? Ive played forever, and even in college, and ill listen to him talk hockey and go what?? Sometimes it sounds liek hes calling in from his basement after taking a break from world of warcraft.

[PromoTheRobot]

1) Hamilton is an idiot which is par for WGR. But I will say I was shocked when I heard Hamilton fill in PBP for Ric once. He was actually terrific.

 

2) Hasek is definitely a mental case.

 

3) Hasek had good reason to be pissed at the players in front of him. Hasek gets blamed for the OT goal that lost game 7 of the PIT series but I clearly recall how the Sabres dogged it in game 6 when the Pens pulled their goalie. We had that series won and we gave it away. I'd be done with the Sabres too if I was Hasek. Who wants to play for team that's not committed to winning at every level?

[wjag]

Time to refill that prescription?

:D That one put the smile on my face..

[nfreeman]

I have no thoughts on this other than it's been too long between games if the Hamilton-Hasek vendetta is all there is to discuss.

[Kristian]

 

3) Hasek had good reason to be pissed at the players in front of him. Hasek gets blamed for the OT goal that lost game 7 of the PIT series but I clearly recall how the Sabres dogged it in game 6 when the Pens pulled their goalie. We had that series won and we gave it away. I'd be done with the Sabres too if I was Hasek. Who wants to play for team that's not committed to winning at every level?

 

Hasek was a basket case, most likely an a-hole too in his personal life, but he was the best goalie to ever play the game IMHO, and the fact that they lost that series the way they did - his last series in a Buffalo uniform - still pisses me off to no end.

 

I also vividly remember Koharski not penalising Kasparaitis for throwing the puck over the glass, and Glimour not backchecking on the gamewinner.

 

Awful, awful memories....

[Skibum]

Hasek once had a 70-save, four overtime shutout in the playoffs. Suck it, Hamilton.

[MattPie]

I also vividly remember Koharski not penalising Kasparaitis for throwing the puck over the glass, and Glimour not backchecking on the gamewinner.

 

I don't remember Kasparaitis throwing the puck over the glass, but I seem to remember him catching the puck, making a move around a Buffalo player, dropping it, and taking a shot that ended up in a goal. I thought that was the OT goal, but I'm wrong. Same series though, I think.

[Cereal]

I have no thoughts on this other than it's been too long between games if the Hamilton-Hasek vendetta is all there is to discuss.

:worthy:

[stenbaro]

I don't remember Kasparaitis throwing the puck over the glass, but I seem to remember him catching the puck, making a move around a Buffalo player, dropping it, and taking a shot that ended up in a goal. I thought that was the OT goal, but I'm wrong. Same series though, I think.

I saw it live and in person..I almost had a heart attack!!! He caught it and threw it over the glass in his own zone..I was sitting in sec 110 and saw it perfectly..My blood still boils just thinking about it..

[Kristian]

I saw it live and in person..I almost had a heart attack!!! He caught it and threw it over the glass in his own zone..I was sitting in sec 110 and saw it perfectly..My blood still boils just thinking about it..

 

And what did Koharski do?

 

"Don't do that again".

 

I'm right there with you with the blood boiling, rest assured!

 

That said, game 7 should never have happened, and the team was responsible for throwing away that series, not the refs.

[baleine]

Finally someone calls out Paul Hamilton. It's the if you don't like something on the team then your not a fan mentallity. Hasek was the last "Star" we had on the Sabres. Stanely Cup winner and Olympics winner. Somewhat poor at English and like most goalies "eccentric". But did he deliver while a Sabre..YES....and oh my god did Buffalo turn on him when he left..because he saw the state of the Regis owned franchise ahead of the pack and decided that the team was headed into a ditch. History shows he made the right move..we are still recovering from those years...in any case, back to Paul Hamilton...the gentleman who last year single handedly crusaded to remove Afinegenov from the team but this year can't say BOO to the way Vanek is playing. His take ..Vanek scores in spurts...well %$&^%.The league has figured out Vanek..or at least the defensemen have...he is no fear coming down one on one on them..they actually slow down to match his speed at which point he dumps off into the corners and either makes a line change or half heartidly chases the puck in. Sure he makes too much money which is not his fault but Kevin Lowes fault in Edmonton BUT why does Paul Hamilton leave the gloves off when it comes down to Vanek but crucify Max last year after coming off an injury.Max is and was way more scary than Vanek one on one. Vanek excels in front of the net but in a 2-1 game he will disappear when it comes down to getting the winning goal. Paul doesn't like guys who don't give him a good interview i.e don't speak English well and he's a HOMER who would make Gaustad the captain just because he's American (having said that Gaustad's game is really improved year after year).

Paul Hamilton has NO read on this team and HE SHOULD! Paul is just a WGR55 stooge.

[SwampD]

Finally someone calls out Paul Hamilton. It's the if you don't like something on the team then your not a fan mentallity. Hasek was the last "Star" we had on the Sabres. Stanely Cup winner and Olympics winner. Somewhat poor at English and like most goalies "eccentric". But did he deliver while a Sabre..YES....and oh my god did Buffalo turn on him when he left..because he saw the state of the Regis owned franchise ahead of the pack and decided that the team was headed into a ditch. History shows he made the right move..we are still recovering from those years...in any case, back to Paul Hamilton...the gentleman who last year single handedly crusaded to remove Afinegenov from the team but this year can't say BOO to the way Vanek is playing. His take ..Vanek scores in spurts...well %$&^%.The league has figured out Vanek..or at least the defensemen have...he is no fear coming down one on one on them..they actually slow down to match his speed at which point he dumps off into the corners and either makes a line change or half heartidly chases the puck in. Sure he makes too much money which is not his fault but Kevin Lowes fault in Edmonton BUT why does Paul Hamilton leave the gloves off when it comes down to Vanek but crucify Max last year after coming off an injury.Max is and was way more scary than Vanek one on one. Vanek excels in front of the net but in a 2-1 game he will disappear when it comes down to getting the winning goal. Paul doesn't like guys who don't give him a good interview i.e don't speak English well and he's a HOMER who would make Gaustad the captain just because he's American (having said that Gaustad's game is really improved year after year).

Paul Hamilton has NO read on this team and HE SHOULD! Paul is just a WGR55 stooge.

What you should have said was,"and oh my god did HE turn on Buffalo when he left...because he saw the state of the Regis owned franchise ahead of the pack and decided that HE would help dig the ditch that the team was headed in. History shows he made sure we didn't get in return his full worth and are still recovering from those years.

 

 

GM, we've missed you.

Have you read a lot of the rants that come up when Hasek is mentioned? Hamilton's not the only one who has a "personal campaign" against the guy.

I guess you can figure out where I stand.