Dougie Hamilton will likely leave New Jersey if they want to hang onto Simon Nemec but it open the door for the Maple Leafs to take the veteran off their hands.
Dougie Hamilton's been subjected to a lot of trade speculation over the past few months, and despite numerous reports of a deal, he's stayed put. The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team who would love to have him to help give them some real puck-movement and could snag him given the fact the New Jersey Devils need to find the money and room for Simon Nemec.
With news that Simon Nemec wants to stay in New Jersey, the Devils are at risk of already having some cap scenario nightmares and for new GM Sunny Mehta, that's already a blemish on his new record.
Nemec wants to stay and that means Dougie Hamilton is the odd man out
He would love to keep him around but that necessitates a spot and cap space being opened to sign him long-term and give him prime minutes so that means getting rid of an expensive veteran like Dougie Hamilton.
Hamilton, 32, has two years left on his current deal which expires in 2028. He costs $9-million so he isn't exactly cheap option however with the team likely trading Morgan Rielly and desperate to add some real playmaking to the blueline, they can afford to spend on him.
Hamilton is coming off a down season where he had only 39 points in 77 games which is a far cry from the player he was in 2022-23 where he recorded 74 points including 22 goals. He has dealt with injury issues the past few seasons, so that's a bit of a red flag, but averaged 47 points from 2014-2023; he is very consistent.
But with a defensive group that already includes Nemec, Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce, Jonathan Kovacevic, and Jonas Siegenthaler; not to mention Seamus Casey in the system, you can see a logjam in New Jersey.
So that means a guy like Hamilton is more than expendable to Mehta, but now it becomes a question of where.
Hamilton already vetoed a trade to San Jose but Toronto is a completely different beast
We reported earlier this year that Hamilton said no thank you to a potential deal to the San Jose Sharks and whether it be due to not wanting to move across the country, or feeling a lack of competitiveness right away - the deal was off.
But Toronto has been a destination he isn't afraid to enjoy, growing up in the city and literally being part of the team's Jumbotron video as a kid. He knows they are close to competing and could feel a wave of motivation and confidence if the team looks to him as their solution on the blueline.
He has a modified 10-team no trade list this summer which makes things a little easier in terms of a deal for New Jersey. Toronto is not believed to be on that list, so the opportunity is there should John Chayka want it.
Knowing he gets a chance to play with Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Matthew Knies, John Tavares, Easton Cowan and (presumably) Gavin McKenna? That's a stacked lineup and he's got the talent and capability to guide them into the postseason and provide that elite level of puck movement and transition offence.
It may be taking a bit more time than expected, but the Maple Leafs have a shot at landing Dougie Hamilton finally - and it's certainly worth the wait.
Do you want Dougie Hamilton to replace Morgan Rielly on the Maple Leafs?
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