If the New Jersey Devils’ humiliating 9-0 loss to the New York Islanders wasn’t rock bottom, I don’t know what is. But amid the wreckage of that defeat lies a harsh reality the front office can no longer ignore: The current roster construction is flawed, and the solution is staring them in the face. To fix this team, the Devils must trade Dougie Hamilton.
It sounds drastic to move a defenseman of his caliber, but the math doesn’t lie. The Devils are desperate for scoring depth, specifically a high-end forward like Steven Stamkos or Alex Tuch, but they are paralyzed by less than $1 million in cap space. You cannot fix a broken bottom-six or find insurance for an injury-prone Jack Hughes with pocket change. The only asset with a high enough cap hit ($9 million AAV) and enough value to bring back a significant return is Hamilton. The window to make this move is now open, and frankly, the Devils can afford to lose him on the blue line far more than they can afford to keep struggling to score.
The Rise of Nemec and Hughes Makes Hamilton Expendable
The emergence of the youth movement on defense has changed the equation entirely. When Hamilton signed, he was the undisputed alpha. Now? Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec have not only stepped up; in many metrics, they are outperforming the veteran. Hughes brings the same offensive dynamism for a fraction of the cost, and Nemec, still on his rookie deal, offers stability and transition play that makes Hamilton’s $9 million price tag look like a luxury rather than a necessity.
We aren’t just speculating here. NHL insider David Pagnotta recently dropped a bombshell, suggesting that a Hamilton trade was already on the table earlier this season but fell through because the destination wasn’t on his preferred list. That tells me the Devils’ brass already knows what needs to be done. They are trying to move the money.
The Rise of Nemec and Hughes Makes Hamilton Expendable
Look at the depth chart. Beyond the young stars, the Devils have Jonas Siegenthaler, Brett Pesce, and Brendan Dillon locking down the defensive side, with Seamus Casey and Johnathan Kovacevic providing depth. This isn’t a team with a thin blue line; it’s a team with a surplus of defense and a famine of offense. Keeping Hamilton blocks valuable ice time for players who are the future of this franchise while tying up money that could secure a game-changer up front.
Targeting Stamkos and Tuch: The Cap Reality
Let’s talk about the forward group. When Jack Hughes goes down—and historically, he misses time every season—the lights go out in New Jersey. The bottom-six production is abysmal. Players like Ondrej Palat and Stefan Noesen are grinding, but five goals combined from the depth forwards is championship-killing content.
Imagine flipping that $9 million cap hit into Steven Stamkos or making a push for Alex Tuch if Buffalo falters. That transforms the Devils from a team hoping to make the playoffs into a legitimate threat. It’s painful to trade a star, but in the salary cap era, asset management is king. The Devils have the defense to survive without Hamilton; they do not have the offense to survive without a trade.
Latest New Jersey Devils News & Where to Watch
Want to stay ahead of every roster move? Bookmark nhltraderumor.com for the latest breaking news on the New Jersey Devils. While you’re there, check out our “How to Watch” guide for tonight’s game TV listings and join our exclusive Fantasy Hockey Pool to compete for real cash prizes against other passionate fans. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter below so you never miss a rumor.
The post The Hard Truth: Why Trading Dougie Hamilton Saves The Devils appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
