With the recent Dougie Hamilton revelations, a New Jersey Devils trade involving the 32-year-old defenseman has upgraded from a matter of if to when. So, does the $9 million defenseman still hold any trade value?
Saturday revealed a lot about the Devils moving forward. It’s become crystal clear he’s no longer part of the plans moving forward.
In fact, that became clear to the right-shot defenseman himself, when he nixed a trade to the San Jose Sharks over the summer, as reported by Elliotte Friedman on Saturday Headlines via Hockey Night in Canada this weekend.
Hamilton’s agent, J.P. Barry, went public with criticism on New Jersey’s handling of the situation that will see him as a healthy scratch moving forward, explaining the Hamilton camp is willing to be more flexible as opposed to limiting themselves to the veteran blueliners 10-team trade list.
So, where does Hamilton’s trade value sit?
For starters, a source tells New Jersey Hockey Now that Hamilton is still seen as a top-four defenseman, likely a low-end No.4 blueliner.
His right-shot handedness is coveted, although the cap hit hinders his value.
Couple it all with the fact that Hamilton’s netted just five goals and 10 points, and is on a 20-point pace, and it might seem like general manager Tom Fitzgerald won’t get much back in a potential deal.
However, although Hamilton’s camp is willing to be flexible on their trade protection, they still reserve the right to nix a deal to a destination they don’t desire. That helps keep Hamilton’s stock afloat a bit here.
Certainly, the Devils won’t be netting a first-round pick for the right-shot defenseman. Yet, New Jersey Hockey Now is told netting a third-line center isn’t out of the question, which addresses two needs at once. Being rid of Hamilton’s cap hit, and addressing depth down the middle of the lineup.
A deeper look at the analytics suggest that although the raw statistics don’t jump off the page for Hamilton, he’s not as bad as most Devils fans think. Is he the $9 million point producer he was signed to be several summers ago?
No, but he’s still effective according to the numbers. Per Natural Stat Trick, Hamilton ranks third on the Devils with a 53.49 xGF%, fourth with a 347-307 scoring chance differential, and is first overall in high-danger chances (56.55%) at even strength.
Hamilton is still shooting at a decently high clip, too, for his status. He typically averages 192 shots per season between 2013-14 and 2024-25. He’s currently on pace in 2025-26 for 219 shots, and his role has decreased in New Jersey.
Those statistics are actually a bit more impressive when you consider most of his shifts start in the neutral zone (192), as opposed to the offensive zone (68), which are opposite in seasons previous. In fact, he starts the least amount of shifts in the offensive zone, starting 94 in the defensive end this season.
Therefore, there’s still more juice to squeeze out of Hamilton. He just needs somewhere to play where there isn’t a Luke Hughes blocking him.
In this kind of trade, we’re looking at teams with money to burn and a need for defenseman. Would Hamilton reconsider San Jose with how things have gone this season? Perhaps turning down a chance to play with Macklin Celebrini feels like a mistake.
Otherwise, we’re still looking West. The Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks seem like fits. Do the Chicago Blackhawks want another veteran on their blueline? They should at least check-in. In the East, perhaps the Columbus Blue Jackets are thinking ahead of 2025-26, and could use another right-shot producer.
So, there are a few factors here. The buyer matters. A team like Columbus will have an in-division tax. Whereas a team in the West won’t, the cap hit still diminishes the value a bit if they’re taking the full $9 million.
Seeing as Hamilton is still viewed as a top-four defenseman who is a right-shot, the expected goals still outweigh the against which advocate Hamilton drives play, and his defensive game is better than year’s previous, the Devils won’t have to attach incentives here to get him off the books.
As previously stated, a third-line center isn’t out of the question.
Look at the Seth Jones trade last season. The Florida Panthers forked over the Chicago Blackhawks’ goaltender of the now, and the future, in Spencer Knight and a few conditional picks. Chicago did retain 26% of his cap hit for the final four years of his contract.
Jones is younger, although just by a year, and the better player. So you’ll have to go lower than that, especially if the Devils don’t want to retain.
Could the Jakob Chychrun trade from Ottawa to Washington be the formula? Chychrun went to Washington in exchange for Nick Jensen and a third-round pick in 2026.
That seems to be the more appropriate trade value for Hamilton’s services, or perhaps a bit lower.
Underneath Hamilton’s surface, there’s a 20-goal, 75 point player recently. He’s not that player anymore, but he’s still got something to offer. Perhaps the Devils can retrieve the third line center they’re seeking. And if it’s a higher-end 3C, as far as draft compensation goes, the drama of it all might lower the selection.
A Devils trade involving Hamilton will be strategic. He has certain destinations he won’t go to, and nixing a Sharks trade in the summer indicates he wants to compete still. Yet, the circumstances have changed, knowing he won’t suit up for New Jersey.
Ultimately, the Devils have options now, and they will strike a deal. They shouldn’t have to add incentives, and have the opportunity to address needs, whether in a Hamilton deal, or a second Devils trade after they clear his cap hit.
Sit tight, this saga seems to be coming to an end.
