As the New Jersey Devils continue to seek answers for what Sheldon Keefe labeled a “crisis” amid poor play, the head coach is starting with benching his star defenseman.
Dougie Hamilton worked on the fourth-pair alongside Colton White during New Jersey’s Saturday afternoon practice.
“Dougie’s the odd-man out,” Keefe said initially, with Johnathan Kovacevic potentially returning to the lineup on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets alongside Jonas Siegenthaler.
Asked to elaborate, Keefe said, “on the right side, with [Simon Nemec] coming back in, we want to give him an opportunity to get his game going. Brett Pesce isn’t going anywhere.”
In Hamilton’s place on the top pair was Kovacevic, who Keefe explained brings a game he prefers as opposed to Hamilton, which he revealed when prompted on whether sitting New Jersey’s $9 million defenseman was in an effort to get him to waive his no-trade clause.
“I don’t care about any of that stuff, I’m putting a roster together, a lineup together. I like what Nemec brings, and I think we need more of what Kovacevic brings at this time.”
If nothing else, Keefe is sending a message to the Devils star defenseman, who is tied with Luke Hughes as the highest-paid player in New Jersey, for his poor play this season.
Following Saturday afternoons practice, Hamilton declined to speak to the media.
The Devils star defenseman is in the center of NHL trade discussions, and is believed to have nixed one trade already by utilizing his no-trade protection.
In December, Hamilton declined to answer a Devils trade question regarding if he was approached to wave his no-trade clause, reinforcing his desire to remain in New Jersey.
On the ice, Hamilton’s had a rough season. In 40 games this year, he’s netted five goals and 10 points. He’s on pace for 10 goals and 20 points in 81 games.
