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The Toronto Maple Leafs could be closing in on a deal for a disgruntled New Jersey Devils blueliner looking to get out soon.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been one of the most active teams among NHL rumors this season. Despite the recent turnaround, the Leafs remain in the market looking to upgrade in any way they can.
One of the key areas the club has been looking for help is on D. Besides the ongoing chatter involving Rasmus Andersson, one player who has suddenly become a hot topic is New Jersey Devils blueliner Dougie Hamilton.
According to a piece by veteran NHL reporter James Murphy of RG Media, the Maple Leafs are one of the teams closing in on Hamilton. The saga took on a new twist this weekend when the Devils healthy-scratched Hamilton.
The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, have a hole in their top four with Chris Tanev out indefinitely. The situation has now kicked into high gear following Elliotte Friedman’s report about Hamilton nixing a deal to the San Jose Sharks.
A source close to the situation told Murphy, before Friedman’s comments, that the situation has now taken a turn:
“That all changed on Saturday because now Hamilton clearly wants out. I’d keep an eye on the Ducks, Leafs, Knights, Red Wings, and Mammoth. I think something happens really soon.”
That’s about a half-dozen teams in the mix. But it’s certainly interesting to see the Maple Leafs among them. As Murphy’s source noted, the deal could be down to the Leafs and the Vegas Golden Knights:
“Both teams are still in the playoff hunt, and he would immediately be part of the top four with all five teams. Besides the Leafs and Knights, look at the cap space the other teams have.”
Hamilton could easily be an upgrade on the right side for the Maple Leafs, should he join the club.
The Major Hitch in Maple Leafs Landing Hamilton
The biggest roadblock in the Leafs acquiring Hamilton is not his massive cap hit. According to Murphy’s informant:
“I had heard the Leafs and Mammoth were both on his ten-team no-trade clause and the Devils had talks with them before, but that won’t matter anymore.”
Taking the comment at face value, Hamilton isn’t keen on joining the Maple Leafs. That was something that apparently hampered a trade from happening before. But then again, the change in circumstances could compel Hamilton to accept a move to Toronto.
Return for Hamilton Unclear
As for the price the Maple Leafs would pay for Hamilton, that remains unclear. The source did not get into any specific offers by Toronto.
But if the source’s reported offer from the Utah Mammoth serves as a comp, the Maple Leafs might not pay a steep price. The source revealed that the Mammoth are willing to offer Nick Schmaltz, Nath Schmidt, and a draft pick.
That package could mean the Leafs might get away with moving a couple of depth pieces to clear enough cap space to add Hamilton.
As for the draft pick, the Maple Leafs don’t have very many of those. Perhaps the Devils would be happy to take a second-rounder and call it a day.
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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