It’s time for some more NHL rumours. We’re into the new year and that means we’ve got plenty to discuss on the hot stove. Teams are going to start ramping up trade talks as we draw closer to the March 6 deadline. General managers want to make a big splash as we get near the big date in just under two months. Some clubs may have to make deals in order to give the player a change of scenery.
One team that may have to make one of these deals is the New Jersey Devils. This edition of NHL rumours deals with a veteran blueliner that may be dealt sooner rather than later.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Latest on Future of New Jersey Devils Blueliner
Rumour: We sift through the latest rumours regarding Devils defenceman Dougie Hamilton. The veteran defender has been the subject of trade talks in recent days.
Analysis: Hamilton was scratched in Sunday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. The roster decision was revealed by Hamilton’s agent, JP Barry, when he talked to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. This news was revealed during Saturday’s Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada.
The return of Johnathan Kovacevic has seemingly made Hamilton the odd man out in the New Jersey lineup. Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe said Hamilton’s fate would be decided before the game. However, Hamilton wasn’t in the lineup in Winnipeg.
Barry mentioned that the scratch is likely to try and force Hamilton to accept a trade. However, there are several factors that could gum up the works.
Hamilton has a modified no-trade clause with a 10-team no-trade list. This means can veto deals to the 21 other teams not on the list. He also carries a $9 million salary cap hit that will run into the end of the 2027-28 season. These two factors could be a massive roadblock in getting a deal done before the trade deadline.
What It Means
Friedman also has a tidbit that a team was trying to make a play for Hamilton over the summer. The Sportsnet insider revealed that the San Jose Sharks wanted to trade for the 32-year-old defender over the summer. However, the Toronto native nixed the trade as per his right.
One school of thought is that Hamilton didn’t want to get sent to a team that’s in the middle of a rebuild. San Jose looked like a club that would still be in the middle of a roster overhaul with its younger lineup.
However, the Sharks have taken a massive step forward thanks to the play of Macklin Celebrini and Yaroslav Askarov. San Jose does need to add some defensive help, and Hamilton could slide immediately into the top pairing.
Barry added that sitting his client could make Hamilton consider a deal to a place that he rejected a few months. However, it seems that Hamilton is going to face the most unceremonious end to his time in New Jersey since the days of Aaron Burr.
Main photo by: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images