Dougie Hamilton to the Toronto Maple Leafs: It's Now a Possibility
New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton could be made available by the franchise, and this could just be a good opportunity for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Dougie Hamilton has struggled over the past few seasons. Injuries have kept him out of the Devils' lineup, and his 74-point season from 2022-23 feels like an anomaly.
However, 6'6" right-handed defenseman don't come around often. They are huge assets, and Hamilton's past results suggest he still has some good hockey left in him.
Despite this, it appears as though the Devils are thinking of trading him. This report is not being pulled out of thin air. Instead, it comes from Elliotte Friedman of '32 Thoughts.'
Elliotte Friedman on Dougie Hamilton
Friedman acknowledges that the chances of a Hamilton trade are fairly low. However, the Devils are kicking tires on it.
Hamilton has three years left on his deal, worth $9 million per season. It is a high AAV, and one has to wonder if there is even a market for him.
The next biggest question for the Devils is Dougie Hamilton. He went from a full no-trade clause to a partial no-trade, I'm just curious to see what happens.
They paid his bonus, I don't have a great feel for it in terms of percentage chances but I know his name was out there and they've been talking to a couple teams.
They paid his bonus, I don't have a great feel for it in terms of percentage chances but I know his name was out there and they've been talking to a couple teams.
While the Leafs have not been named as a potential contender for Hamilton, Hockey Patrol makes a good point about the defenseman.
He used to play for Brad Treliving in Calgary, and with Treliving targeting old players of his like Andrew Mangiapane and Nazem Kadri, Hamilton would not be out of the question.
Of course, the fit itself is a bit dubious. If this were to happen, the Leafs would have to move Rielly out. Besides, at this stage, the priority should be a top-six forward.
Not to mention, the Leafs are short on assets, and the Leafs would not be able to offer the Devils the best deal.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 6 | 502 ANSWERS Dougie Hamilton to the Toronto Maple Leafs: It's Now a Possibility Do you believe the Toronto Maple Leafs could get Dougie Hamilton? | ||
| YES | 226 | 45 % |
| NO | 276 | 55 % |
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