After rumors swirled last year about the New Jersey Devils trying to trade Dougie Hamilton, including him shutting down a trade to San Jose, Dougie Hamilton may not be fully set to stay in New Jersey. The 33-year-old defender has a 10-team trade list in his current deal with the Devils. This contract expires in 2028, making him a free agent after the next two seasons.
After injuries plagued the Devils' defensive lineup in January, the Devils stopped shopping the veteran defender. Now, with a new season looming, Hamilton could find himself back on the chopping block.
If the New Jersey Devils decide to move Dougie Hamilton, it wouldn't be the first time in his career that he's been shopped. Before coming to the Devils, Hamilton played in Boston for three years before being traded to the Calgary Flames in 2015-16. After three seasons in Calgary, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, where he stayed until signing a seven-year deal in New Jersey as a free agent.
When Hamilton joined the team in 2021-22, he was seen as one of the top free agent options of the summer. In the 2022-23 season, Hamilton hit career highs in goals (22), assists (52), and points (74). Injury kept him to just 20 games the following season, and he hasn't come close to that point total since.
In early 2026, the Devils benched Hamilton, and trade rumors were circling, but an injury to Luke Hughes kept Hamilton in the lineup and on the team past the trade deadline. He's a reliable first-line blueliner, but he definitely hasn't played his best hockey these past few years in New Jersey. In the 2026-27 season, Hamilton's contract is tied for the highest on the team with Luke Hughes.
Why a Dougie Hamilton trade makes sense
Arguably the biggest person on New Jersey Devils fans' minds right now is Quinn Hughes. His "will-they-won't-they" with the Devils and Wild has sparked much debate over where his future will lie. One thing is clear though: the Devils will need to clear up some cap space if they do want to bring him in.
Bringing Hughes in would provide a much-needed boost to the New Jersey Devils' defense core and likely make Dougie Hamilton less relevant. Moving Hamilton's $9 million cap hit would help with bringing Hughes in as well.
The Devils are also currently benefiting from existing contracts with their top players who will be free agents in the near future. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt are quite underpaid for their ability, and both will need new deals in the 2030s. With the way the salary ranges are going, Hughes could be making nearly $30 million in his new deal. If the Devils want to keep Hamilton around, he'll likely be looking for something close to $9 million again.
Finally, if the Devils decide they won't be re-signing Hamilton, trading him before he becomes a free agent is the best way for the Devils to get something back for him. He may not be playing his best hockey right now, but he would still be worth a pretty good return. If they don't trade him and he walks in free agency, they'll have nothing to show for the Dougie Hamilton era in New Jersey.
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