There’s only one way to win moving Dougie Hamilton at this point in what now feels like an inevitable New Jersey Devils trade after the off-ice drama has surfaced.
The mismanagement of the Hamilton situation doesn’t look good for anyone, but especially for the Devils. They reeled Hamilton in as the No.1 free agent in 2021, which was a big deal for New Jersey, previously struggling to land premium free agents.
However, Hamilton chose the Devils, with some persuasion by way of compensation and trade protection. And in his time leading up to this season, Hamilton’s done some excellent things.
Fast forward to this summer, and the Devils have been trying to trade the star defenseman who owns a 10-team trade list and full no-move protection through the remaining two years of his contract.
On Sunday in Winnipeg, it appeared as though the Devils were taking the first steps toward trying to force Hamilton’s hand to wave his trade protection. Sheldon Keefe benched the $9 million defenseman and opted for Johnathan Kovacevic, who made his season debut.
It caused a stir, prompting his agent, J.P. Barry, to go public with criticism and Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald to respond in the same manner.
Hamilton returned to the lineup against the Minnesota Wild on Monday, and what do you know? He played the best game he has participated in all season, and the Devils snapped a four-game losing streak.
Two primary assists, actively engaged more than ever in the offensive zone, and looked like the Hamilton of old, not old Hamilton.
The odd thing about this whole situation is that the Devils are proven to be a better team with Hamilton in the lineup.
Still, Sunday’s benching still looms large, especially after the revelation of at least one confirmed trade that was nixed by the 32-year-old blueliner.
So, how can they win this trade?
Well, it seems unlikely that the Devils will be able to retrieve a player better than Hamilton in a deal. That doesn’t rule out the possibility that Fitzgerald can net a serviceable NHLer.
As previously reported, a third-line center is not out of the question.
Still, even if they did address one need while clearing Hamilton’s cap space, the debacle of letting the Hamilton situation develop to the boiling point it’s reached with hard feelings on both sides paints the Devils in a poor light.
It sends a message to potential future free agents that they don’t care to honor promises made in negotiations down the line. It’s not unlike other organizations to do this, but not all come to light this way.
For New Jersey, which is not a destination, that doesn’t bode well for their future.
Look how this kind of thing turned out for the New York Rangers just last season. Chris Drury took the same route with Jacob Trouba and Barclay Goodrow. The Rangers wanted to clear their respective caps in unorthodox, ill-advised fashion.
Yet, the Rangers made no progress after freeing up their money and ultimately missed the playoffs. This season? The Rangers locker room remains rotten. They’re a broken group that Mike Sullivan cannot repair, and they’re beginning to look at some hard changes.
But the Rangers will always be a destination as an original six team in the big city. New Jersey doesn’t have that same luxury.
Although the Hamilton fiasco has them on a similar track, the Devils can’t let the Rangers’ current situation become their fate.
They’re still young and talented enough to avoid suffering a similar outcome to their rival. When Hamilton is ultimately traded, Fitzgerald will need to be certain he retrieves the right corresponding asset, whether it comes in the form of a top-six forward or a third-line center.
But that’s still not how they come out on the other side of the Hamilton ordeal.
The only way to come away from this unscathed is by winning. Win as many games as you can now. Put yourselves back in playoff position, and show the rest of the league and potential future free agents that the Devils are a destination that still contains elite players with championship potential.
Certainly, that’s not who they are right now. But beating the Wild on Monday 5-2 isn’t a bad start.
The Vegas Golden Knights conduct their business in a very similar way. When they’re done with a player, they cut bait and move on. They can, because they’re Vegas. You might hear a murmur or two of criticism. But then that criticism fades into the abyss. The focus instead becomes how daunting of an opponent they can be amid their success.
So win. Get back into the playoffs, or as close as possible. Give New Jersey’s fans a reason to believe again. Give potential free agents a reason to be interested, and this too shall pass.
Winning cures all, and the Devils need medication.
