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Felger: Not Outraged, Because Hamilton Isn't That Good

BOSTON (CBS) -- While many Bruins fans aren't very happy with the team for trading away 22-year-old defenseman Dougie Hamilton, Michael Felger isn't very mad.

The Bruins traded Hamilton to the Calgary Flames on Friday, acquiring three draft picks in the process. Hamilton was due for a pay raise, and the cap-strapped Bruins would have had a hard time affording the blue liner's increased salary.

So instead of slightly overpaying for a potential defenseman of the future, the Bruins traded him away. While the move irks a lot of Boston's faithful fans, it doesn't really bother Felger, who after watching him for the last three seasons, doesn't think Hamilton will develop into an elite defender.

"The people that cover this team in this town have overrated the Bruins to you – they've oversold them to you," Felger said to kick off Monday's Felger & Massarotti on 98.5 The Sports Hub. "They're telling you the players are better than they are.

"He's not that good," he said of Hamilton. "You were once again being sold a guy who wasn't that good. I don't think he's going to be a franchise defenseman. I could be wrong, but if you put a gun to my head and ask me what Doug Hamilton will be when he reaches his prime, I think he'll be a top four D. But I don't think he's these other elite, franchise defenseman around the league."

Felger pointed out that other projected franchise players, most recently Tyler Seguin, would at least show a glimpse of greatness from time to time.

"I haven't really seen that with Dougie Hamilton. Who has? What does he do at an elite level? Is his shot elite? Is his speed elite? Is he an elite passer? No, no, no and no," said Felger. "He does a lot of things well and I can see, in general, the projection…. But when was I, in the last three years, wowed? When did I have to sit down and say wow – because I did that with Segiun, [Phil] Kessel and [Joe] Thornton. I did that with a number of players who became elite players, and I haven't done it with this kid.

"I do not share your outrage, Bruins fans, because I do not think Hamilton is that good."

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