Devils’ season going from bad-to-worse with Dougie Hamilton drama

As if the New Jersey Devils haven’t had enough on their plate this season, what has transpired over the past few days hasn’t done them any favors.

This past Sunday, defenseman Dougie Hamilton was a healthy scratch for the Devils’ game against the Winnipeg Jets. It quickly led to trade speculation, with Hamilton’s agent, J.P. Barry, putting out a statement that Hamilton’s removal from the lineup comes from a business state of mind, rather than a criticism of Hamilton’s game.

Regardless, the team has put itself in a spot where it needs to look at possibly moving the veteran rearguard, though Hamilton has a 10-team trade list. Yet, Barry noted that his client would be open to considering other options “to get to a team that is mutually acceptable.”

For a Devils team spiraling down the Eastern Conference standings, off-ice drama is the last thing that it wanted.

On Monday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton explain how bad the Dougie Hamilton situation has made things for the Devils.

Carter Hutton: It didn’t work in Boston. It didn’t work in Calgary. It didn’t work in Carolina. There’s always been that black cloud of him in the room and as a person. You know, if you’re going to prioritize player and person, he’s always been a bit of an issue when it comes to off-ice. He had a good home there [in New Jersey], but it seems like when things go south quickly for Dougie Hamilton, they go south. I don’t know if it’s the fact that he’s checked out or where he’s at, but he needs to produce. You’re making $9 million a year, and you’re in the press box? It’s a tough, tough look. For Dougie Hamilton and the New Jersey Devils, that relationship seems frayed at this point, where, maybe you move off him, but at that number, I don’t know who’s taking that.

You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…