Boston Bruins Prospects Update: Dougie Hamilton Is Ready to Make NHL Jump

Boston Bruins top prospect Dougie Hamilton dominated the OHL this season with the Niagara IceDogs, and should be on the NHL roster full-time for the 2012-13 season.

Hamilton, 18, won the OHL's most outstanding defenseman award this season, primarily because of his great offensive production. His 72 points (17 goals, 55 assists) led all OHL blueliners in scoring this year.

Hamilton talked about the award via a release (h/t CBS Sports)

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This year has been a ton of fun and it is a huge honor to win this award, Hamilton said in a release. I spent the last couple of years watching the best defencemen in the league and then trying to get myself to that point and it is exciting to be here now and receive this award. A lot of past winners have gone on to NHL careers and hopefully I can follow suit.

"

His IceDogs are currently in the OHL Final against the London Knights, and lead the series 1-0 thanks to Hamilton's goal and two assists in Game 1 of the series. His goal was the game-winner in 2OT.

Here is a video of Hamilton from the 2011 NHL Draft, where the Bruins took him ninth overall.

With the Bruins having major issues on the power play and Joe Corvo, Greg Zanon and Mike Mottau set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, unless re-signed before then, the pathway to the NHL should open for Hamilton.

His offensive talents are phenomenal, and the Bruins certainly could use his power-play skill next season. Hamilton's 30 power-play assists this season tied for the OHL lead.

Hamilton needs to add more size and strength, but at 18 years old it's unfair to expect someone so young to have an NHL body immediately. Right now he's 6'5" and about 200 pounds, and hasn't come close to the strength level he's capable of reaching.

Although the jump to the NHL from junior hockey is a difficult one, after seeing how dominating Hamilton was in the OHL this season, it's hard to imagine a scenario in which he doesn't make the third pairing on the Bruins this season.

When Hamilton joins the Bruins, he will give them a silky smooth skater who sees the ice well and uses his size to his advantage in all three zones.

In the offensive zone, his powerful slap shot and ability to move the puck cleanly makes him an effective player on both the power play and at even strength.

Hamilton has the talent needed to be an NHL player, and the major question is his ability to face pro competition regularly at his age, given his lack of experience and strength.

The Bruins will enter next season as one of the five teams with the best chance at winning the Stanley Cup, and with some glaring issues on the power play, there is no point in having Hamilton staying in the OHL and dominating again when he can begin his NHL career in the fall.

The more time Hamilton can spend with Bruins captain Zdeno Chara the better, because Hamilton could end up being a very similar player down the road.

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Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and has covered the team firsthand since the 2010-11 season. He was also the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final in Boston.