Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images
According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, the disappointing New Jersey Devils are shopping former Boston Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton. Hamilton was drafted by Boston in the first round of the 2011 NHL Draft, ninth overall, and spent three seasons with the club. The talented offensive blueliner was traded by the current General Manager of the Bruins, Don Sweeney, right after Sweeney took the job. But would a reunion be considered?
“The next biggest question for the Devils is Dougie Hamilton”, said Friedman on a recent episode. “He went from a full no-move clause to a partial no-trade. I’m just curious here to see what happens. They paid him his bonus on July 1st. I don’t have a great feel for it in terms of percentage chances that anything occurs with him.”
“But I know that his name was kind of out there a little bit. And I’ve heard they’ve been talking to a couple of teams. So we’ll see where that goes.”
Would Boston be on his partial list of teams to join? While with the Bruins, there were questions about Hamilton’s happiness in Boston and the team’s happiness with him. Now 32 years old, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound right-shot defenseman is coming off a productive offensive season in New Jersey, scoring nine goals and adding 31 assists in 64 games. Hamilton has three years remaining on his current contract with a cap hit of $9 million per season. The Bruins do not have the room for Hamilton and would have to move roster players to make the money work or have New Jersey retain money.
Hamilton’s fit in Boston
Boston received a decent return for Hamilton with their 2015 deal. Then a restricted free agent, the Bruins landed a first-round pick from Calgary and a pair of second-rounders. However, the team fumbled the selections by ultimately drafting Zach Senyshyn, Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, and Jeremy Lauzon with the picks. Senyshyn and Forsbacka-Karlsson were busts who did not make an impact in the NHL. Lauzon is a serviceable defenseman who is playing for his fourth team.
The Bruins could use a right-shot defenseman after trading Brandon Carlo last season to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Andrew Peeke is an upcoming free agent, and the plans to re-sign him are unclear. Jonathan Aspirot has been a nice surprise and was currently signed to a two-year extension by Boston. The 26-year-old can play the right side but shoots left. A player like Hamilton would make sense for the Bruins if there wasn’t the history between the club and player.
Boston is currently a surprise team in the Eastern Conference and in a playoff spot. The Bruins could be sellers and move on from some short-term forwards, but Boston could also be buyers and seek to make the postseason after missing the playoffs last year. Regardless of the direction of the team, Boston could kick the tires on their former player, who has played for four different teams despite collecting 520 points in 882 career games. Although it would seem a long shot for sure.
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