Devils Shouldn’t Rush to Trade Dougie Hamilton

The chaos that comes with the start of free agency has come and gone, but the New Jersey Devils still have a few items to check off their bucket list this summer. The biggest issue remains re-signing defenseman Luke Hughes, even weeks after general manager Tom Fitzgerald admitted the extension was their biggest priority.

With such limited cap space remaining, it’s possible that the Devils could have one more big move on the horizon. One player that could free up funds is Dougie Hamilton, who has three seasons left on his contract, with an average annual value (AAV) of $9 million. While the organization has not been actively shopping him around, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Devils have been fielding calls about the veteran defenseman. Now that they have a solid blue line presence, is it possible that Hamilton’s experience could be used to bolster another team’s defense?

Is Hamilton Worth the Price Tag?

Hamilton was drafted ninth overall by the Boston Bruins in 2011, and has become one of the league’s top defensemen. He has 13 NHL seasons under his belt, and has been extremely consistent for the Devils, especially while the team dealt with defensive struggles.

They acquired Hamilton in 2021, signing him to a seven-year deal worth $63 million. At the time, he was one of the most highly sought-after free agents, so the contract seemed well worth the price. However, he has been sidelined due to injury two seasons in a row, which raises valid concern. Hamilton has the highest cap hit on the team. For comparison, his defense partner, Brenden Dillon, will earn $4 million for the next two seasons, while Brett Pesce just signed a six-year contract with a $5.5 million cap hit.

Even though parting ways with Hamilton would free up enough cap space to extend Hughes, it would leave behind a massive gap in the Devils’ blue line. Even after missing 18 games due to injury last season, he still led Devils’ defensemen in goals and shots. Last season also marked the eighth time in his career that Hamilton hit the 40-point mark. Meaning, his offensive contributions would be greatly missed should he join another team.

Which Teams Could Use Hamilton?

On July 1, Hamilton’s no-trade clause shifted to a ten-team no-trade list. Theoretically, the Devils could solve two issues at once. Not only would a trade increase the amount of cap space at their disposal, but they could also address the holes in their bottom-six forward group. In exchange for Hamilton, they could try to acquire a third-line center. There’s certainly no shortage of teams that could use an elite veteran defenseman. This year’s class of free agents were somewhat lackluster, without much high-impact talent. Here are a few contenders who could be interested in a Hamilton trade.