{"id":400524,"date":"2026-01-11T00:21:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T00:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/400524\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T00:21:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T00:21:11","slug":"devils-hamilton-willing-to-be-flexible-with-10-team-trade-list-after-being-scratched","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/400524\/","title":{"rendered":"Devils\u2019 Hamilton willing to be flexible with 10-team trade list after being scratched"},"content":{"rendered":"

It appears veteran defenceman Dougie Hamilton<\/a> is willing to work with the New Jersey Devils<\/a> to find a suitable trade partner after being declared a healthy scratch for Sunday\u2019s game against the Winnipeg Jets<\/a>. <\/p>\n

With defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic<\/a>, who\u2019s been sidelined for the entire 2025-26 campaign with a knee injury, expected to make his season debut on Sunday, head coach Sheldon Keefe<\/a> announced Saturday that Hamilton would be scratched. <\/p>\n

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reached out to Hamilton\u2019s agent J.P. Barry, who said the decision to scratch his client seemed \u201cvery calculated at this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barry added Hamilton would be willing to be flexible beyond his 10-team trade list if it helps to find a suitable destination.<\/p>\n

\u201cDougie was informed today that he will be not be playing now that Kovacevic is back in the lineup. In our view, this decision is all about business rather than his game right now. Singling him out seems very calculated at this stage,\u201d Barry told LeBrun. \u201cDougie has a 10-team trade list and there have been efforts to trade him going back to the draft last year. We have made it clear to the Devils that we will consider teams outside our list and other creative ways to get to a team that is mutually acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reached out to Dougie Hamilton\u2019s agent J.P. Barry. His response:
\u201cDougie was informed today that he will be not be playing now that Kovacevic is back in the lineup. In our view,
this decision is all about business rather than his game right now. Singling him out seems very\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

LeBrun also reached out to Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald, who said Hamilton was the odd-man out with the team\u2019s right side defence being healthy for the first time this season. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs you know, we just put [Simon] Nemec back in the lineup on Thursday. He\u2019s a young guy who we want getting his game back, where he had been easily our best defenceman before his injury,\u201d Fitzgerald explained. \u201c[Brett] Pesce\u2019s play speaks for itself, he isn\u2019t going anywhere. And Kovacevic coming back, gives our roster a spark we are looking for, and he was our best defensive defenceman all of last year. And that\u2019s what we want with our lineup now. This is simply Dougie being the odd-man out with where our right-side is fully healthy for the first time all year. This is business. Business of our lineup!\u201d<\/p>\n

Reached to Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald in wake of J.P. Barry\u2019s comments.
Fitzgerald:
\u201cAs you know, we just put Nemec back in the lineup on Thursday. He\u2019s a young guy who we want getting his game back, where he had been easily our best defensemen before his injury.
Pesce\u2019s play\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The 32-year-old Hamilton has five goals and five assists over 40 games with the Devils this season, his fifth in New Jersey and 14th in the NHL. <\/p>\n

Keefe also told the media on Saturday that Hamilton would be the \u201codd man out\u201d on Sunday. <\/p>\n

\u201cOn the right side, we wanted to give [Simon Nemec<\/a>] an opportunity to get his game back going. [Brett] Pesce isn\u2019t going anywhere. We just talked about what Kovacevic can bring and wanted to get him back involved,\u201d Keefe said.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old Kovacevic is in the first year of a five-year, $20 million contract. <\/p>\n

Kovacevic hasn\u2019t played this season due to offseason knee surgery. <\/p>\n

HC Keefe on the decision to scratch Hamilton:<\/p>\n

“Dougie is the odd man out. On the right side, we wanted to give (Nemec) an opportunity to get his game back going. Pesce isn\u2019t going anywhere. We just talked about what Kovy can bring and wanted to get him back involved.”#NJDevils<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/iPVKJJ10xx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) January 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

A native of Toronto, Hamilton is in the fifth season of a seven-year, $63 million contract, featuring an annual cap hit of $9 million, signed with the Devils ahead of the 2021-22 season. <\/p>\n

Hamilton has 156 goals and 355 assists over 875 games with the Boston Bruins<\/a>, Calgary Flames<\/a>, Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> and Devils, adding nine goals and 22 assists over 71 playoff games. <\/p>\n

Boston selected Hamilton ninth overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. <\/p>\n

New Jersey has struggled recently, dropping three straight games by a total score of 16-2. They sit sixth in the Metropolitan Division with a 22-20-2 record.<\/p>\n

The trade deadline is March 6. <\/p>\n