The New Jersey Devils have been trying to move defenseman Dougie Hamilton for a while now-dating all the way back to last summer, in fact-but circumstances have taken a sharp turn that’s likely to keep the veteran blueliner in Newark for the rest of the season.
According to multiple reports, the Devils were actively shopping Hamilton and even had a potential deal lined up with the San Jose Sharks. But that trade never saw the light of day, with Hamilton reportedly using his no-move clause to shut it down. Since then, New Jersey has been working to get his hefty cap hit off the books, but without success.
Then came the curveball: Luke Hughes’ shoulder injury.
Hughes, one of the Devils’ most promising young defensemen, is expected to rehab rather than undergo surgery-a decision that could shorten his recovery timeline. Still, there’s no guarantee he’ll be back in the lineup before the March 6 trade deadline.
That uncertainty has changed the calculus for New Jersey’s front office. With Hughes sidelined, the team’s defensive depth takes a hit, and suddenly, moving Hamilton becomes a lot less feasible.
Insider Elliotte Friedman weighed in on the situation during the January 24 edition of Saturday Headlines, stating that it’s now unlikely the Devils will trade Hamilton this season. That doesn’t mean it’s entirely off the table-Friedman did note that if a team comes calling with an offer too good to pass up, general manager Tom Fitzgerald would have to listen. But barring a desperate contender losing a top-pair defenseman and deciding to roll the dice, that kind of offer seems far-fetched.
Hamilton, for all his talent, comes with a significant financial commitment, and that’s not an easy pill for most teams to swallow midseason. Unless something dramatic happens, the Devils appear set to ride out the rest of the year with the 30-year-old on the roster.
So, where does that leave things? Realistically, any Hamilton trade talk is likely to be shelved until the offseason, when teams have more cap flexibility and time to maneuver. For now, the Devils’ best bet is to make the most of Hamilton’s experience while they navigate the second half of the season without Hughes.
In other words, Dougie Hamilton isn’t going anywhere-at least not yet.