There were so many rumors that ended up going nowhere this offseason. It was an epidemic across the NHL. We thought we were getting this interesting free agency period with Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Brock Boeser, Matt Duchene, Ryan Donato, Brock Nelson, Aaron Ekblad, and John Tavares all available. Every single one of them signed before July 1.
Because of the lackluster free agency, analysts said there would be more trades than usual this offseason. There ended up being far fewer trades. There were ZERO trades in August. There were only seven trades after July 1st, and a large majority of those trades were low-level prospects.
So, with so little movement, the Devils find themselves with many of the same holes they entered the offseason with. They still don’t have a third-line center, they still could use a top-six winger, and they still don’t have enough cap space to re-sign Luke Hughes for eight years.
Of course, these trades could return now that Labor Day is over and training camp starts, but one trade option seems to be off the table for the Devils. Many thought Dougie Hamilton was available during the summer, as the Devils do have a logjam (once Johnny Kovacevic returns) at right defense and could use Hamilton’s $9 million cap hit elsewhere.
The speculation truly came from two things. Hamilton received most of his 2025-26 salary in the form of a bonus, so teams would be truly taking on just Hamilton’s cap hit.
Dougie Hamilton is very likely sticking withthe New Jersey Devils
Hamilton also saw his full no-move clause change to a modified no-trade clause. Hamilton can provide a 10-team trade list that the Devils can move him without him waiving anything.
Despite all this, Hamilton never moved, and if we were to predict, we think that’s off the table right now.
The Devils have to prepare for the season, and while Hamilton’s $9 million in space would be nice, it’s not completely necessary. There are other ways to make money appear for the Devils. Hamilton is still contributing at a high level, but it’s possible Hamilton’s injuries could eventually come back to get him and hurt his value.
A recent trade board released by Bleacher Report removed Hamilton entirely. The rumor mill has run dry, and it appears so has the Devils’ interest in moving their top defenseman.