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A major stumbling block to a Dougie Hamilton trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs has been revealed by a notable insider.
Toronto Maple Leafs rumors suggesting a trade for New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton have become ubiquitous over the last week or so. The chatter picked up even more when Hamilton was a healthy scratch earlier this week.
However, a recent article in The Athletic poured some cold water on those rumors. In a January 15 piece, insider Pierre LeBrun discussed how the Maple Leafs’ potential trade for Hamilton hinges on one key factor:
“It’s believed the Maple Leafs wouldn’t entertain a deal, though, unless the Devils retained significantly.”
That retention is a major “if.” According to the current rules, the Devils could only retain as much a 50%. Since the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has not gone into effect yet, a third-party team could pick up another 25% of Hamilton’s salary. That situation would leave the Maple Leafs on the hook for the remaining 25%.
That’s a tough trick to pull off, especially since Hamilton still has two seasons left on his current deal. Still, the Devils are desperate to clear cap space, and Hamilton’s cap hit is getting in the way.
In the meantime, the Maple Leafs seem to be in hot pursuit. As LeBrun noted, the team has a major hole on the right side with Chris Tanev out of the lineup. While Hamilton isn’t a physical shutdown defenseman, he is a great replacement on the right side.
That’s why it makes sense that the Maple Leafs would be looking to fill that spot with the best available defenseman.
Maple Leafs GM Treliving’s Links to Hamilton Especially Important
LeBrun also noted another very interesting point regarding the links between the Maple Leafs and Dougie Hamilton.
Hamilton is a former member of the Calgary Flames. He was a player there under Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving’s watch. Treliving signed Hamilton to a six-year deal in 2015 worth $34.5 million. However, Hamilton didn’t last very long in Calgary. The Flames traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018.
As such, the thought of a reunion between Hamilton and Treliving as a part of the Maple Leafs organization seems to have caught some momentum. But it remains unclear if the two sides are on good enough terms to make Hamilton waive his no-trade clause and head to Toronto.
Hamilton Could Head to Toronto before Olympics
The other key to LeBrun’s piece was the timeline for the Hamilton trade. Apparently, the Devils would like to settle the matter before the Olympic break. That situation could mean that the Maple Leafs might land the veteran blueliner ahead of the February 4 roster freeze.
That’s still pretty much a matter of wishful thinking. While there’s certainly the desire to get the deal done soon, the fact is that it may not be quite that simple. LeBrun noted that the Devils’ top priority is to shed Ondrej Palat’s $6 million cap hit.
Unfortunately, the Devils have had a hard time getting interest for Palat. That’s why the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes may have to wait for Devils’ GM Tom Fitzgerald’s to-do list to shrink before Hamilton could be on the move.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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