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Dougie Hamilton’s time with the New Jersey Devils is likely coming to an end soon.

The Carolina Hurricanes have their eyes set on making a deep run in the NHL playoffs. Still, with the trade deadline looming in early March, the Hurricanes put themselves in a position to be buyers before the final stretch of the regular season. Sitting atop the Metro division, the Canes will likely have a favorable seed in April’s playoffs and have an outside shot at the Presidents’ Cup.

Among many things, Carolina is looking to acquire another forward, a backup goalie since Pyotr Kochetkov went down with a season-ending injury, and a depth defenseman. In a recent ESPN piece by Greg Wyshynski, the NHL writer notes that the Hurricanes are an intriguing landing spot for New Jersey Devils $9 million defenseman Dougie Hamilton.

Should the Hurricanes Trade for Dougie Hamilton?

Dougie Hamilton is familiar with the Carolina Hurricanes, as he played with the Canes from 2018-2021. After his stint with the Canes, Hamilton signed a seven-year, $63 million contract that includes a $9 million club option for the 2027-28 season.

Here is why Wyshynski believes that Hamilton might be moved, and why the Hurricanes are a good fit:

GettyDougie Hamilton’s time with the New Jersey Devils is likely coming to an end soon.

“Hamilton isn’t the offensive player that he once was, but he could easily fill someone’s need for a veteran puck-moving defenseman on their second pairing. One intriguing possibility: a reunion with the Carolina Hurricanes, whom Hamilton left as a free agent in 2021.”

Some of the other defenseman that the ESPN writer includes in the group with Dougie Hamilton are Tyler Myers and Justin Faulk, who are also two names Carolina could consider trading for.

The NHL trade deadline is Friday, March 6 @ 3:00 p.m. EST, so pretty much exactly one week from now.

Will the Hurricanes Add a Defenseman?

Dougie Hamilton would be a good fit in Carolina to slip into the second-or-third defensive pair on this team.

Let’s make one thing clear: the Hurricanes are a pretty complete hockey team in the broad scope of the league.

However, their aspiration lay in making the Stanley Cup Finals, and with the Florida Panthers on the outside looking in the playoff picture, this is the year for Carolina to go all-in.

Dougie Hamilton has played 54 games with the Devils this season and has 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists).

Sean Walker and K’Andre Miller currently hold the second-defensive pairing for this Hurricanes team, but if the cost for Hamilton isn’t too steep, a reunion seems plausible.

In 184 games with the Hurricanes, Hamilton had 42 goals and 79 assists, and finished as a finalist for the Norris Trophy in all three seasons with the team.

If the Devils are set on selling at the deadline, an in-division trade may be rare, but Carolina might come calling for Dougie Hamilton.

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