The Toronto Maple Leafs keep getting linked to veteran New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton as trade chatter intensifies ahead of the NHL‘s trade deadline on March 6.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun and RG’s Jimmy Murphy, the Maple Leafs are one of several playoff contenders monitoring Hamilton’s situation.
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The 32-year-old was recently a healthy scratch and demoted down New Jersey’s defensive pairings, adding fuel to speculation that the Devils are trying to force him out of town.
Hamilton’s agent, J.P. Barry, indicated that the benching was not performance-related in an interview with LeBrun.
“In our view, this decision is all about business rather than his game right now.” Barry added that Hamilton may be open to expanding his no-trade list, which includes 21 teams.
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On Tuesday, just as Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos floated a mock blockbuster trade sending Hamilton to Toronto with the Devils retaining salary, LeBrun mentioned the Leafs as suitors for the blueliner as long as that happens.
“Carolina and Toronto are among the potential fits,” LeBrun said. “Let me stress ‘potential.’ With the Leafs, I think there’s no question they’re not taking him at $9 million a year, the Devils would have to retain. So we’ll see where it goes. They hope to get this done before the Olympic break.”
New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (7) looks on.James Guillory-Imagn Images
Murphy, meanwhile, reported that San Jose, Toronto, Anaheim, Vegas, Detroit and Utah have all expressed interest.
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“The Sharks, Maple Leafs, and Mammoth have all emerged as serious suitors,” Murphy wrote. “San Jose and Utah in particular have circled back with New Jersey as talks accelerate, while Toronto remains involved despite tighter cap constraints.”
Hamilton’s $9 million cap hit through 2027–28 poses the biggest challenge for a Leafs-Devils trade.
Toronto has just under $3.4 million of current cap space, which means New Jersey should retain salary in a potential trade involving Chris Tanev, as suggested by Kypreos.
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Related: Nick Kypreos Floats Maple Leafs-Devils Blockbuster Trade
Related: Maple Leafs Coach Shares Anthony Stolarz Injury Update Amid Trade Speculation
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the NHL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.