Photo credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images
With Rasmus Andersson traded on Sunday, the price for Dougie Hamilton is much more apparent and if the Maple Leafs want him then they’ll need to pay a hefty price.
it wasn’t cheap, and there is no guarantees that Andersson is going to re-sign in Vegas, which would make him an extremely expensive rental.
Another player who is on the cusp of getting dealt himself is New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton. After essentially being told to figure out where he wants to go next, time is just ticking on when a move will be made.
Toronto now knows what Dougie Hamilton is likely to cost
Andersson’s package was a pretty hefty one all things considered. The Flames got Zach Whitecloud, Abram Wiebe, and two drafts picks including a 2027 first-round pick as well as a conditional second that turns into a first via a Vegas Cup win.
That’s an NHL ready defender, a mid-tier but tantalizing prospect, and two potential first-round picks for a few months of Andersson; who very well could eschew Vegas this summer and test free agency anyways.
While it’s been reported that the Devils are more keen on dumping Hamilton’s salary, it’s going to be tough to ask them to take on 50% like Calgary did for Andersson.
Can Toronto still afford Dougie Hamilton?
That means the price goes up, and if it was a simple cap dump then now it gets more complicated. Not only will Toronto seek to get rid of some dead weight, but will now need to impress with a more suitable package for the Devils.
While it won’t be Easton Cowan, it certainly could be Ben Danford and Toronto’s 2027 first-rounder as part of the package in addition to a young NHL-ready player like Matias Maccelli.
There’s no doubt that Hamilton makes the Maple Leafs better overall but it’s going to be another case of trading the future for present-day help which has been unsuccessful every single time.
It very well could change this year, but fans aren’t going to be pleased if the team finds themselves with an early exit and now really nothing else in the pipeline.
Plus, you’re still going to be paying for a defenseman on the wrong side of 30, with injury concerns, and adds to a growing list of aging blueliners for the Maple Leafs.
So while Toronto certainly can afford to bring Hamilton aboard since he’ll be slightly cheaper than Rasmus Andersson, it begs the question:
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Dougie Hamilton’s price just got a lot clearer for the Leafs after the Rasmus Andersson trade
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