Dougie Hamilton's market is far stronger than expected, with the Maple Leafs among the top teams
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
According to Jimmy Murphy of RG.org, the Dougie Hamilton sweepstakes have some serious contenders, though the Maple Leafs still sit at the top of the list.
With the news that the New Jersey Devils and defenseman Dougie Hamilton have essentially fallen out, the question now becomes when is he getting traded, and where does he end up at the end of the day?
He's certainly going to have his fair share of suitors and with several teams looking to improve on their backend, Hamilton is one of the top names on the market and could command a huge price.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team who have been heavily linked to the veteran, and there seems to be more and more traction each day when it comes to his potential to land in his hometown.
Maple Leafs one of six teams vying for Dougie Hamilton amidst Devils tension
But a new report shows that they aren't the only ones vying for Hamilton's services and some teams certainly have a lot of assets they can dangle in front of GM Tom Fitzgerald.
Jimmy Murphy of RG.org reports that six teams all have interest in Hamilton, including a team he already said no to once before:
As mentioned above, the Sharks, Ducks, Maple Leafs, Golden Knights, Red Wings, and Mammoth are all teams that could acquire Hamilton, who is in the fifth season of a seven-year, $63 million ($9M AAV) contract.
I had heard the Leafs and Mammoth were both on his ten-team no-trade clause and the Devils had talks with them before, but that won't matter anymore,» the source said prior to Friedman reporting Hamilton nixed a trade to the Sharks.
I had heard the Leafs and Mammoth were both on his ten-team no-trade clause and the Devils had talks with them before, but that won't matter anymore,» the source said prior to Friedman reporting Hamilton nixed a trade to the Sharks.
It's a huge bit of info to know that the Maple Leafs are on the no-trade list, and although he is open to a potential deal now, at least we have a clearer idea of why the team hasn't been able to acquire him just yet.
For what it's worth, Nick Kypreos reports that Hamilton would indeed entertain a move to Toronto if the Devils had a suitable offer:
Does Toronto have a legitimate shot at Dougie Hamilton?
Well, now that he is open to it the Maple Leafs are now part of the conversation but it comes down to what they can offer versus what other teams have.
The Ducks, Mammoth, Red Wings and even the Sharks (if they're back in) all have a slew of premium draft picks and young players who the Devils could use now and in the future.
Not to mention the prospect pool is much deeper than Toronto's plus they'll need to make sure they have enough salary open to bring him aboard; which isn't an issue for teams like Detroit and Anaheim.
Sure there's always the personal connection and Hamilton seems to still be a fan from childhood, but that can only go so far and is not a guarantee especially when powerhouses like Vegas are in the mix.
Toronto can certainly sweeten the pot with the last of their assets but they'll have to ensure that Hamilton is the right fit for the next little bit because they're out of options after this.
So do the Maple Leafs have a shot at Dougie Hamilton? About as good as any if they go for broke but whether that becomes a wise decision remains to be seen.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 13|722 ANSWERS Dougie Hamilton's market is far stronger than expected, with the Maple Leafs among the top teams Should Toronto go after or avoid Dougie Hamilton? | ||
| Go After Him! | 189 | 26.2 % |
| Avoid! Avoid! | 533 | 73.8 % |
| List of polls | ||