If

you’re not familiar with Garnet Hathaway, I’m writing this article for you

because there’s a very real chance he’ll be signed by Brad Treliving this

offseason. No, I’m not joking.

For

those who aren’t regular Adirondack observers, it’s rumoured that Garnet

Hathaway’s parents stole some of Lance Bouma’s DNA in order to create their own

child. I just created that rumour. I’m hoping it’ll stick.

The

comparisons between the two players are freakishly endless though. They’re

nearly the same size (Hathaway is 6’2” 210lbs while Bouma is 6’1” 210lbs).

Hathaway is putting up slightly higher points-per-game than Bouma did at the

AHL level (0.43 and 0.28, respectively). They skate exactly the same. They both

play the game with reckless abandon. In his rookie season, Hathaway has 12 goals

and 11 assists through 54 games. In Bouma’s rookie season, he had 12 goals and

eight assists in 61 games. Both will stick up for teammates at the drop of a

dime (even though they’re not fighters), as evidenced here in Hathaway’s second

professional fight:





However,

the uncanny resemblance between 23-year-old Hathaway and 24-year-old Bouma is

their sick infatuation with blocking pucks. I don’t understand it. I probably

never will. But that’s why we’re fans and bloggers and they’re the type of

people who thrive on jumping on the proverbial grenade for the good of the

team.

But

if you take a look back at Hathaway’s roots, it’s not hard to see why he is the

way he is.

The

Brown University alumnus was born in the hockey hot bed of Naples, Florida but

calls Kennebunkport, Maine home. In the winters, he played hockey. In the

summer, he

ran a lobster cart to make extra money. On some days he’d make up to $200

selling lobsters, which went straight to his hockey stick fund. In fact, he

scored his first goal with a stick he bought with his lobster money.

A

hockey player in one season, a lobster salesman in another. Bad ass.

It’s

that meat and potatoes work ethic that has put him in a favourable position to

earn a two-way contract this off-season, and Flames fans should be thrilled to

have him.

On

any given night, here’s what you can expect from Hathaway on a consistent basis. Outside of David Wolf,

Hathaway is the biggest terror to play against. When an opposition player has

the puck, he’s on you like stink on a pig. When the play is in his end, he’s

the Hakeem Olajuwan of the Adirondack Flames – no puck is getting through if he

can help it. Just two weeks ago, in the dying minutes of a game versus the

Oklahoma City Barons, Hathaway saved three,

yes, three goals that were headed for

an open net by Superman-ing in front of them.

Offensively,

he has the necessary skills to cycle the puck for long periods of time, and

then he’ll head to the net and clean up the garbage. His ability to read the

play in the O-zone is above-average for a player in his role. At times

throughout the season, he’s played with skilled guys. Like any good symbiotic

relationship, not only does Hathaway’s play become more effective by playing

with Granlund, Ferland or Baertschi, but surprisingly so too does the other

party.

Now,

you may be thinking, “so what? He’s just another fourth liner. They grow on

trees.” Yes, he is just another fourth liner, and no, they don’t grow on trees.

Especially not lately in the Flames organization, and especially not guys like

Hathaway. He’s been a wonderful discovery by Frank Anzalone (the Flames’ NCAA

scout).

A

couple of weeks ago, in this Turner Elson article, I showed how

the Flames used to be saturated with gritty, energy, leadership-type prospects,

but for a myriad of reasons no longer have that sort of depth. This is why

Garnet Hathaway may be a valuable piece for the Flames and that value is only increased

when you take into account what position he plays: right wing. Yes, a right

shooting, right-winger that actually exists within the Flames’ system.

That

means his current competition for an NHL fourth line, crash-and-bang,

jack-of-all-trades job on the right wing is Hunter Smith, Austin Carroll and

Tim Harrison. There’s a hope that Smith becomes more than that – perhaps a

second or third line power forward. Carroll is an exciting prospect who has all

the tools to make the NHL, including a propensity for peskiness. Harrison is

considered a long shot to make the Bigs, sort of like winning a mini-bike at

the Stampede twice in a row. Wait, what?

In other words,

Hathaway’s put himself in an opportunistic position and doesn’t have the greatest

competition to win that spot, say, next September. Now is a good time to start

looking out for his name because the Lance Bouma of the AHL will soon become

Garnet Hathaway of the NHL.





