The San Jose Sharks head into the Olympic break with a pulse - and that’s more than many expected at this point in the season. After a promising start that’s cooled off a bit, they’re still just five points out of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
That’s not just within striking distance - that’s a reason to stay aggressive. And with the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline looming post-Olympics, San Jose has a real opportunity to make a move that could shift their trajectory both now and into the future.
All eyes are on general manager Mike Grier and what kind of statement he’s ready to make. One name that continues to hover around the Sharks is defenseman Dougie Hamilton - a player San Jose already tried to acquire last summer.
That deal was blocked by Hamilton via his no-trade clause, and he stayed with the New Jersey Devils to start the 2025-26 campaign. But circumstances have changed.
Now it’s the Devils who are on the outside looking in. Despite having more points than the Sharks, New Jersey sits even further from a playoff spot in the East.
They’re motivated sellers, and Hamilton is one of the biggest names on the block. The Sharks, meanwhile, still have a glaring need on their blueline - a need Hamilton could fill in a big way.
Sure, there’s a chance Hamilton could once again exercise his no-trade clause and nix a move to the Bay Area. But San Jose should absolutely circle back and push for this deal. The fit is too good to ignore.
Let’s start with Hamilton’s on-ice impact. His offensive production has dipped a bit this season, but let’s not forget who we’re talking about.
This is a defenseman who’s consistently put up 40-50 points over the course of his career - and not long ago, he posted a 22-goal, 77-point season while helping lead the Devils to the playoffs. That kind of offensive upside from the back end is rare, and it’s exactly what the Sharks need to take pressure off their forwards.
But Hamilton isn’t just a power play quarterback or a point-producing machine. He’s also been one of New Jersey’s most reliable defenders in his own zone.
According to Evolving Hockey, he ranks second among Devils defensemen in Goals Against Per 60 Minutes in all situations. That’s not a fluke - he also ranks second in Corsi Against per 60, meaning he’s limiting shot attempts and suppressing quality chances consistently.
And it’s not just special teams where he shines. At 5-on-5, Hamilton still owns the second-best Goals Against rate among Devils blue-liners and is one of only three New Jersey defensemen with an expected Goals For Percentage over 50%.
In plain terms: when he’s on the ice, his team is more likely to outscore the opposition. That’s the kind of player who can anchor a top pairing and bring stability to a young defensive corps.
San Jose’s got plenty of youth on the back end - and more coming up through the pipeline. Adding a veteran like Hamilton gives those younger players a model to learn from and a safety net to grow behind. It also gives rookie goaltender Yaroslav Askarov a reliable presence in front of him - something every young netminder needs.
From a roster-building perspective, the Sharks are in a good spot to make this kind of move. They have the cap space, they have the assets, and they wouldn’t necessarily need to gut their future to get it done. Hamilton is under contract through 2028, so this wouldn’t be a rental - it’s a long-term investment in a player who fits both the current need and the bigger picture.
Of course, the big question is whether it’s worth it to spend future capital when the playoffs aren’t a lock. But in this case?
It might be. The Western Conference is top-heavy - a few elite teams have separated themselves - but below that tier, the field is wide open.
There’s room for a team like San Jose to make a move and climb the ladder.
The Sharks have shown they can hang. And Macklin Celebrini has been nothing short of electric.
With 81 points heading into the Olympic break, he’s not just leading the team - he’s putting together a Hart Trophy-caliber season. But he can’t do it alone.
The gap between Celebrini and the next-highest scorer on the team - Will Smith with 39 points - is massive. That’s a problem.
Hamilton won’t close that scoring gap himself, but his ability to move the puck, join the rush, and distribute in the offensive zone could open things up for the rest of the lineup. If the Sharks can get more out of their supporting cast, they become a much more dangerous team - and a much tougher out down the stretch.
This isn’t just about chasing a playoff spot in 2026. It’s about setting up a young, talented core for sustained success. A player like Hamilton gives the Sharks a stabilizing force on the back end, a leader for the locker room, and a piece that fits into the window they’re trying to open.
If San Jose has a chance to land Dougie Hamilton at the deadline, it’s a move they should make. The timing is right.
The need is clear. And the upside?
It could be the start of something special.