Somehow, some way, star New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton still hasn't earned even a little bit of consideration from Hockey Canada to represent his nation internationally. On Friday, Hockey Canada invited 42 players to attend its National Teams Orientation Camp, which will take place from Aug. 26 to Aug. 28 in Calgary, Alberta.
Hamilton, 32, wasn't among the 13 defensemen invited by Canada, but a few questionable choices were included at his expense.
Chief among those questionable choices is Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour, a fellow power play specialist who is coming off an all-around down year, based on the analytics.
Montour, 31, recorded a career-high 18 goals in 81 games with the Kraken this season, but he also only produced 41 points, including just 11 on the power play, while stumbling to a career-worst -22 rating.
The 73 points he recorded with the Florida Panthers in the 2022-23 season are, by and large, a statistical anomaly at this point in his career.
And while the Kraken aren't a very good team, they signed Montour with the expectation he'll play a big part in shifting the franchise forward. That hasn't happened yet, but Hamilton has already done that in New Jersey with the Devils.
Hamilton has struggled with injuries in recent years. He's been limited to just 84 regular-season games in the last two seasons, but his 14 goals, 42 assists, and 56 points in those two seasons (effectively one full season) are more than respectable totals.
For example, if we gave Hamilton the grace of a 56-point, 82-game season, it would be the second-most prolific year of his career, behind only his 22-goal, 74-point campaign with the Devils in 2022-23.
Injuries have kept the affable 6-foot-6 rearguard off the ice, but he hasn't quite slowed down yet. Hockey Canada has failed to recognize this fact, instead opting to go with Montour, a player the management group is familiar with, or old veterans, like Drew Doughty.
The reality is that Hamilton, if given a suitable defense partner, would be more effective than the likes of Montour, Doughty, MacKenzie Weegar, and maybe Noah Dobson, too.
Aside from Evan Bouchard and Cale Makar, who are both locks at this point, Hamilton has the best shot of the group.
Canada doesn't necessarily need more firepower for a power play with all the forward talent they have, but they've erased that option altogether by excluding Hamilton from the upcoming camp.
The Devils star deserved better in what will likely be his last realistic chance at playing in the Winter Olympics; at least a chance at sticking as a reserve defenseman.