Could Dougie Hamilton Be the Answer to Toronto’s Blue Line Woes?
For over a decade, Maple Leafs fans have been chasing the same dream: a defensive corps strong enough to finally bring the Stanley Cup back to Toronto. And heading into the 2025-26 season, there was reason to believe that dream wasn’t so far-fetched. The Leafs had built a solid group on the back end - Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Brandon Carlo, and Simon Benoit - a mix of experience, grit, and puck-moving ability.
But as is often the case in hockey, plans look great until the puck drops. Injuries have hit hard, with short-term absences piling up and a likely season-ending blow to Chris Tanev. That’s left the Leafs scrambling, leaning on depth pieces like Philippe Myers, who’s now thrust into an everyday role he’s struggled to fill.
With the team sitting just one point outside the playoff picture, and the trade deadline creeping closer, the Leafs may need to act. And one name now floating on the market could be worth a serious look: Dougie Hamilton.
What Dougie Hamilton Brings in 2026
Let’s be clear - this isn’t Dougie Hamilton at his peak. Through 44 games this season, he’s posted five goals and 15 points, and was recently a healthy scratch under Sheldon Keefe - the same Sheldon Keefe who once coached in Toronto. That’s not exactly a glowing endorsement.
But even if he’s not the 22-goal, 74-point blueliner we saw in 2022-23, Hamilton still brings something the Leafs could use: a right-handed shot with offensive upside. He’s never been known for lockdown defense, but when healthy, he’s long been one of the more dynamic offensive defensemen in the league. And right now, Toronto could use a shot of that on the back end.
At 32, Hamilton is clearly in the latter stages of his career, and recurring injuries haven’t helped his case in New Jersey. He’s struggled to find a consistent role, and it’s fair to say both player and team could benefit from a fresh start. For a Toronto-born player, a move home might be the kind of reset that reignites his game.
The Contract Complication
Here’s where things get tricky. Hamilton is in year five of a seven-year, $63 million deal he signed with the Devils back in 2021. That’s a $9 million cap hit - a tough pill to swallow for a player who’s not producing like a top-pairing star.
Toronto, with just $2.5 million in cap space, would need some serious financial gymnastics to make this work. The most realistic path?
New Jersey retaining 50% of Hamilton’s salary, bringing his cap hit down to $4.5 million. That’s a much more manageable number for a team like the Leafs, especially if they believe Hamilton can still be a difference-maker.
But that kind of retention is no small ask. The Devils would be eating $4.5 million per year for the next two and a half seasons - and with Hamilton’s value down, they may not be eager to do that without a sweetener coming back their way. There’s also the question of whether New Jersey’s front office, led by GM Tom Fitzgerald, has the green light to make such a move, especially after some recent missteps on the trade front.
What Might a Deal Look Like?
So what would it take to get this done?
If the Devils agree to retain half of Hamilton’s salary, a package centered around a 2027 second-round pick, Simon Benoit, and Calle Jarnkrok could make sense. It’s not a blockbuster return, but it reflects Hamilton’s current value - a once-elite defenseman whose contract now outweighs his on-ice production.
For Toronto, the upside is clear. Hamilton at $4.5 million could be a strong addition to a blueline that’s been hit hard by injuries. He’d bring a right-handed shot to the power play, offer some offensive punch from the back end, and potentially stabilize a second pairing that’s been in flux.
From the Devils’ perspective, the math is a bit more complicated. They wouldn’t save much in the short term - taking back Jarnkrok’s $2.1 million and Benoit’s $1.35 million contracts - but both players could be flipped at the deadline.
Jarnkrok is a pending UFA, and Benoit has one year left, making them attractive depth adds for contenders. The long-term gain would be shedding the final two years of Hamilton’s deal, freeing up cap space for a team that’s still trying to find its identity.
Is Hamilton Still a Fit?
There’s no question that Dougie Hamilton’s name doesn’t carry the same weight it once did. But sometimes, fit matters more than flash. Toronto doesn’t need Hamilton to be a Norris candidate - they need someone who can eat minutes, move the puck, and help a power play that’s trending in the right direction.
At $9 million? That’s a tough sell.
But at $4.5 million, with some insulation around him and a clear role? That’s a different conversation.
The Maple Leafs are in a tight playoff race, and with the blue line banged up, every move matters. If the Devils are willing to retain, and the Leafs can make the numbers work, Dougie Hamilton might just be the kind of calculated gamble that pays off when it matters most.