Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
According to Elliotte Friedman, there was a deal in place for San Jose to acquire Dougie Hamilton but he rejected it leaving room for the Maple Leafs to make a trade.
They feel as if they have been disrespected and essentially forced to make a decision and there were reports that he was dangled earlier this offseason but rejected the deal due to his 10-team no trade list.
But now we have a bit more information on the situation and we can thank Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman for a critical update.
Hamilton trade fell through in the summer; Devils still trying to move him
Speaking on the Saturday’s Headlines segment of Sportsnet’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, Friedman noted about the tense relationship between Hamilton and the Devils, explaining the previous trade that fell through with San Jose:
San Jose tried to trade for him in the summer, but he blocked that move.
He has a 10 team trade list, others he can block but they will consider some as they look to open up their preferred choices a bit more.
Friedman then explained that Hamilton and his agent JP Barry thought the decision made on Saturday was not due to Hamilton’s struggles this season but rather a power move to force him out:
The feelings are very hard on both sides, Hamilton feels he’s being targeted for non-performance reasons.
Contract termination is NOT on the table.
Hamilton certainly hasn’t been that offensive force that he’s known for over the last few seasons and has slipped a little on defense but you can credit New Jersey’s struggles for at least some of that downfall.
Maple Leafs have golden opportunity to acquire their new #1 defenseman
But if he truly is being forced out, and he’s looking to expand his options then there’s no team who could use him more (or have been linked more) than the Toronto Maple Leafs.
If New Jersey and GM Tom Fitzgerald are desperate enough to move his deal, then perhaps they won’t be squeezing Brad Treliving dry for every asset he has left.
Sure it may be hard to get his $9-million deal figured out but a mix of salary retention and mid-tier contracts could get it done.
If the team somehow can keep Morgan Rielly; it’ll be a talented defensive corps:
McCabe – Hamilton
Rielly – Carlo
Ekman-Larsson – Stecher
That leaves Benoit, Myers, and Dakota Mermis as your emergency options which aren’t the worst choices in a pinch, and Toronto will need to ensure they don’t fall victim to another string of injuries to their blueline.
Hamilton will also be more motivated to play somewhere that actually wants him around, and if he can pick his season up in the last few months and build momentum heading into the playoffs, he very well may be the x-factor Toronto needs.
That is, if they can acquire him in the first place.
Previously on Hockey Patrol