Are the Dougie Hamilton rumors true? We analyze why a blockbuster trade for the Devils defenseman depends on Luke Hughes’ new deal and the NHL’s defense market.
The chatter around the league is getting louder, and a big name is right in the middle of it: Dougie Hamilton. When you see a player with a $9 million AAV and a 10-team no-trade clause, the conversation always gets interesting. But let’s be clear, the latest Dougie Hamilton rumors aren’t about a simple decline in play or a player wanting out. This is a complex game of financial chess, and Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has some tough moves ahead. The crux of the issue isn’t just Hamilton’s contract; it’s the impending, and likely massive, contract extension for superstar-in-the-making Luke Hughes.
Hughes’ next deal could easily surpass $7 million per year. With the Devils projected to have just under that in cap space for 2025-26, the math simply doesn’t add up. This is where the Hamilton situation goes from a back-of-the-napkin hypothetical to a very real possibility. Fitzgerald may be forced to shed significant salary, and Hamilton’s $9 million cap hit is the most obvious candidate.
Why the Broader Defenseman Market is the Real Story
Here’s my take, and it’s where things get complicated for New Jersey. A potential Hamilton trade doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The entire market for top-four defensemen is currently in a holding pattern, dictated by two key names: Rasmus Andersson and Erik Karlsson. Andersson, with his ridiculously affordable $4.5 million cap hit, is the type of player every contender is calling Calgary about. Then you have Karlsson, the wild card. If either of those players moves first, it sets the price and the list of potential suitors.
If teams can acquire a player like Andersson for a cheaper cap hit, the market for a 32-year-old Hamilton at $9 million shrinks considerably. It could turn a hockey trade into a pure salary dump, forcing the Devils to attach a significant sweetener to get a deal done. This logjam is the real reason for the hold-up. Fitzgerald is likely waiting to see how these other dominoes fall before deciding if he has to make a move on Hamilton.
The Inescapable Cap Conundrum
Ultimately, this boils down to asset management and painful choices. While Hamilton is a premier offensive defenseman when healthy, the Devils are built on young, dynamic talent. Prioritizing the future in Luke Hughes is a no-brainer. If his contract demands force the team’s hand, moving Hamilton might be the only viable path to remaining cap compliant while keeping the core intact.
It’s a move Fitzgerald almost certainly doesn’t want to make, but the financial realities of the NHL may leave him with no other choice. The next few weeks will be telling; keep a close eye on the Andersson and Karlsson fronts, because their movement—or lack thereof—will likely signal what’s next for Dougie Hamilton in New Jersey.
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