Hamilton Bulldogs: Which overagers will be back?
Defense
Jack Hanley
Hanley is one of those defensemen that is at his best when you don’t notice him. With only 14 points in 63 points last season and three points in the OHL playoffs, he was never depended on for his offense. He regularly lined alongside Connor Walters on the Bulldogs’ shutdown pair. With Walters now gone, it might be best for the Bulldogs to let go of his defense partner as well.
Will He Be Back? No
Ben Gleason
If you want to find the Bulldog’s hardest-working defenseman, you don’t have to look further than Gleason. No other defenseman was as determined to keep a puck in the offensive zone when the Bulldogs needed to tie a game. His work ethic alone should be enough to get an NHL team to take a shot on him. His shots from the blue line almost always find a way to get through to the goalie, creating more offense.
If an NHL team doesn’t sign him this offseason and moves him up to their AHL team, expect Gleason to be back.
Will He Be Back? Yes
Nicolas Mattinen
Mattinen was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016, however he did not sign with them and will be going back into this year’s draft. His situation might have had something to do with that since he was a bit player on the London Knights followed by being traded to one of the OHL’s worst teams in the Flint Firebirds.
Having been traded twice last season, it would probably be best for his development to stay in Hamilton. He also provides the Bulldogs with a big body on the back end, as they are losing one in Justin Lemcke.
Will He Be Back? Yes
Riley Stillman
Stillman was acquired at the trade deadline and proved to be one of the Bulldogs best acquisitions. His offensive production jumped after his trade from Oshawa and that continued into the OHL playoffs. No one would have been shocked to see him win playoff MVP, even though it ended up going to Brandon Saigeon.
Signing with the Florida Panthers in early March, expect him to be playing in Springfield next season.
Will He Be Back? No