5 Players New Jersey Devils Can’t Afford To Get Injured This Season

2. Dougie Hamilton

Damon Severson and P.K. Subban are both quality right-handed defensemen who can certainly play a role on the New Jersey Devils. They might be some of the best second and third-line right-side defenders in the league. It’s a really good situation for the Devils to be in. However, one injury puts the Devils in one of the best situations into one of the worst.

The Devils signed Dougie Hamilton in the offseason to a massive contract. He looks like an absolute stud in training camp, and he was just as good against the Rangers in his preseason debut. The Devils are going to get the best of Hamilton this year. He is directly in the middle of his prime, and they are paying for that kind of production. However, an injury ends that dream before it starts.

We saw what happens when Subban and Severson try to establish themselves as the top defensemen. They did it last year, and it ended terribly. Subban averaged 22:22 of time on ice last season. That was surprisingly more than he was averaging in his first season when the Devils had dreamed he could still be a Norris-level defender. It didn’t happen, and it’s not happening this season either.

Hamilton plays a key role in every unit for the Devils. He plays power play and penalty kill. Losing him means that Lindy Ruff has to make major changes everywhere on top of reshuffling the defensive lines. It would be a nightmare if he gets injured.