2011-12 Year-End Review: Roman Hamrlik

June 4, 2012 11:29 am

Photo credit: Chuck Meyers

Roman Hamrlik was good for two things this season: “Hamr”-related puns, and being used as a comparison point to demonstrate how young or old other people are, such as Dmitry Orlov (three years old when Hamrlik’s career began!) or Marc Bergevin (played hockey with Hamrlik!).

There’s one more year remaining on Hamrlik’s contract with the Caps, which means there’s one more year for the Caps game entertainment crew to make him an MC Hamr montage. They are officially on the clock.

Cap Hit: $3.5 M. Hamrlik is signed until 2012-13 and will be UFA on expiration of that contract.

Milestones: This season, Roman Hamrlik passed Bobby Holik for the record in all-time games played by a Czech (1379).

Best Moment: Hamrlik did his best to keep the Caps in Game Seven of the Rangers series, tallying the Caps’ only goal of the night.

When Hamrlik is providing scoring, you know things have gotten desperate.

Worst Moment: December 27th against the Sabres, when Hamrlik took a penalty nine seconds into the game. Do you remember where you were at this moment? Do you remember the rage?

Things We Said About Roman Hamrlik: “Oh would you look at that, a delay of game penalty!”

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

First Irrelevant Google Images Result:

Media Consensus: “Put away the torches and pitchforks please! Roman Hamrlik is not as awful as you think he is!”

Spirit Animal: A moose.

Alternate Universe Superhero Identity: HamrTime

Team Role: Hamrlik was acquired in order to be a steadying veteran presence on the blueline and provide leadership to the team’s young core.

Execution of that Role: Hamrlik managed to get himself off on the wrong foot with the Caps fanbase, really struggling early but improving significantly as the season went on, peaking in the playoffs.

Postseason Performance: Hamrlik hit his stride in the postseason, playing airtight defense in close games where airtight defense was needed. He even chipped in on the scoresheet, with four points in fourteen games.

Beard Rating:

Hamrlik’s veteran beard-growing experience really pays off here. Seven out of ten.

Likeliness to Return: Five out of ten. Any other teams looking for a relatively solid, aging defenseman? Call us.

Usefulness in a Post-Apocalyptic Setting: Worth keeping around initially, because you won’t have to outrun the zombies, you’ll only have to outrun Roman Hamrlik. Three out of ten.

Other: Art by Ian from one of those nuclear midseason Sabres games: