What is Dougie Hamilton worth on the market ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline?

The New Jersey Devils are going to be sellers at the NHL Trade Deadline. Despite winning two games in a row, the team is still more than 10 points out of the playoff race. They have to assess the roster and determine who is there for the long term and which players make more sense as trade fodder.

One player who has been confirmed as trade fodder is Dougie Hamilton. Things hit a fever pitch in January when the Devils decided it made sense to bench Hamilton. At the time, it seemed like Hamilton played his last game for the Devils, but in true internet fashion, that was an overreaction. Hamilton was back in the lineup the very next day, and he’s been the best defenseman on the team since then.

What is surprising is that there’s been zero movement since that fever point. The Devils haven’t been in those rumors like they were before. 

There are a few reasons why this trade is very complicated. Hamilton’s cap number and contract length are the biggest detriments. Hamilton has a $9 million salary cap hit for the next two seasons. Does his contract length help or hurt the return? The simple answer is that it depends on the team. Some would rather have this high cap hit end after the season, while others would want that commitment from a really good player. 

What is Dougie Hamilton worth on the trade market?

That said, the returns from teams are going to be very different. Where would it make the most sense for the Devils to send Hamilton?

Like the Ondrej Palat trade, we feel like the Devils are going to take on a contract in return in the Hamilton trade. That will be impactful to any trade. If the Devils can find a team that can match at least part of the contract, then the return would be better.

We don’t think the return is going to be great. If they got a Colorado Avalanche first-round pick, it would be a huge win. We’re more thinking it’s going to be a second-round pick and at least $7 million in future salary cap space. 

Will that be disappointing? We suppose, but if they can get a decent bottom-six forward in return along with a decent draft pick, it’s at least something, and it will be better than what they could have gotten for him in December or January.