Boston Bruins rookie defenceman Dougie Hamilton fires the puck in a game against the New York Rangers last week. "He's got all the tools to develop into a Norris Trophy candidate." Zdeno Chara tells Sun columnist Mike Zeisberger. (Getty Images)
BOSTON - Four games into his young NHL career, Dougie Hamilton peered up into the stands of TD Garden and heard more than 17,000 people chanting his name.
“Dougie, Dougie ...” they shouted during the late stages of the Boston Bruins 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday.
The kid had best get used to it. According to Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, many more accolades are in store for the young defenceman.
“He’s very willing to learn,” Chara told the Toronto Sun. “He’s got all the tools to develop into a Norris Trophy candidate.”
In Boston, Chara’s words must sound like sweet music but they are probably the last thing Leafs fans want to hear. Wasn’t it bad enough when they were forced to watch Tyler Seguin, then still a rookie himself, hoist the Stanley Cup in 2011?
Now Leafs fans must digest Chara’s proclamation that Hamilton could one day win the Norris as the league’s top defenceman.
