NHL Trade Rumors: What’s really going on with Dougie Hamilton and New Jersey Devils?

Once again, the New Jersey Devils are involved in trade rumors, and Dougie Hamilton’s name is one of the most mentioned in this regard, as teams are still looking for opportunities to upgrade their defense through the back line. Moving their star defenseman has become a subject of debate among both fans and insiders, but the initial signs point out that more of a watch-and-wait situation rather than a deal about to be done is at stake here.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that there is no signal at present that a Dougie Hamilton trade is on the cards. Notwithstanding, the situation still stays dynamic, mainly due to Hamilton's contract situation, which has two more years to run and comes with a huge $9 million cap hit.

Why are teams still monitoring a potential Dougie Hamilton trade?

Josh Wegman from The Score reported that a little while ago, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman made it known that Hamilton was not keen on moving to the San Jose Sharks. Recently, San Jose has turned out to be a surprise playoff contender, and the possibility that Hamilton might change his mind if the interest is revived has been talked about among the league watchers. Wegman additionally mentioned the Nashville Predators and a possible return to the Calgary Flames, but those both seem unlikely because of the team’s direction and contract issues.
James Murphy from RG.Org gave extra insight that the Utah Mammoth were also interested last summer and could reacquaint through talks. At the same time, the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vegas Golden Knights keep a close watch on the situation. Detroit and Utah are the two that get attention, as both have over $26 million in cap space, in addition to good draft and prospect assets.

Cap limitations complicate the situation for Toronto and Vegas unless they are willing to move or take on some salary. Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun and Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star both reported that Leafs GM Brad Treliving is still on the hunt for defense upgrades, with contract decisions within the organization possibly influencing the team’s trade flexibility as the March 6 deadline approaches.

At this point, Dougie Hamilton is still a Devil, but the interest from other teams in the league has not diminished. It's tough to see this plot as over with the mix of salary cap difficulties, timing, and team direction.

Also Read: NHL Trade Rumors: Ottawa Senators linked to Rasmus Andersson while Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers explore changes