San Jose Sharks Prospect Files: Freddie Hamilton
By Robert Nasso
Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
From the hockey hotbed of Toronto, Ontario came Freddie Hamilton, currently playing for the AHL Worcester Sharks – not far from his brother Dougie, who plays for the Boston Bruins.
The 6’1″, 195 lb. center got his first look at NHL action this season when he appeared in 11 games for the San Jose Sharks, but being held without a point and accumulating a minus-5 rating, he was demoted to the club’s AHL affiliate. In just 22 games, the alternate captain is in a three-way tie for the Worcester Sharks scoring lead with 18 points (11G, 7A), tied with Daniil Tarasov and the recently called-up Bracken Kearns (no longer on the AHL roster, now with the San Jose Sharks).
Taken in the 5th round (129th overall) of the 2010 draft, Hamilton could be another “diamond in the rough” like fellow right-handed centerman Joe Pavelski, now a top offensive force for the NHL Sharks and soon-to-be USA Olympic participant. Hamilton is known for his international success as well, having participated in the 2012 WJC U-20 for Team Canada, scoring 1G and 6A in 6 games, as well as being a plus-six in the tourney.
Hamilton had an impressive OHL career with the Niagara IceDogs, scoring 28, 55, 83, and 86 points respectively over his four seasons with the club. He then appeared in all 76 games for the Worcester Sharks in 2012-2013 (and was the only player to do so), tallying 13G and 13A for 26 points in his rookie campaign.
"Freddie Hamilton is a shutdown forward with some offensive upside. The physical centerman reads and reacts to the play very well, and he constantly puts himself in a position to succeed on the defensive side of the spectrum. He is versatile and could feasibly play an NHL top-six role, but more in a defensive capacity in an attempt to shutdown the oppositions best. A top-nine role is more realistic.– Hockey’s Future"
Hamilton is expected to finish the 2013-2014 season with the Worcester Sharks, however he will likely made a strong case to crack the San Jose Sharks lineup in the 2014-2015 season.