The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to bolster their roster, and Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils seems to be a part of their plan.
Trade rumors surrounding the 32-year-old have reached a fever pitch of late, with the Devils rethinking their decision to offer the D-man a hefty contract.
Hamilton is in the fifth year of his seven-year, $63 million contract with the Devils, signed in 2021. The New Jersey outfit is now seemingly of the belief that the contract wasn’t entirely justified.
Rookie defensemen like Šimon Nemec and Seamus Casey can do much of what Hamilton does, but for a lot cheaper. Although the Devils seem in no particular hurry to bid farewell to the defenseman, they would reportedly not be averse to such a prospect.
The Leafs are following all Hamilton-related developments closely, having shown significant interest in the 32-year-old.
Devils’ Dougie Hamilton In Maple Leafs’ Sights
The Devils are not desperate to trade Hamilton away, especially after Jonathan Kovacevic’s knee surgery on May 8. He is presently recuperating from the surgery and there is no specific timeline designated for his return. It will be a while before the D-man returns to the rink and we could very well have to wait until December to see him in action.
The Devils should tread cautiously, given that Hamilton is the team’s sole veteran defenseman on the right side in Kovacevic’s absence. Nonetheless, the contract is heavy, and the Devils are seemingly feeling the heat.
According to an RG Media report, an NHL executive told the platform that the Maple Leafs are among the many teams that could benefit from Hamilton’s addition. The 32-year-old defenseman fits the mold of players that Brad Treliving usually shows interest in.
“Teams are calling on [Hamilton] now. I heard the Leafs looked into him. They’re looking into multiple options for their blue line, and a lot of them have offensive flair. That’s their strength, so there’s a common thread with their trade targets right now, and Hamilton fits the bill,” the report read.
Hamilton also has a 10-team no-trade list, which offers greater flexibility and freedom for teams trying to procure his services compared to the no-movement clause he held until July 1. Now, what are the odds that the Maple Leafs land Hamilton? Could there be hindrances to such a move?
Elliotte Friedman: The next biggest question for the Devils is Dougie Hamilton, he went from a full no move clause to a partial no trade; I’m just curious to see what happens, they paid his bonus on July 1st – 32 Thoughts Podcast
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 7, 2025
Hamilton is an expensive prospect, and the cost could be an issue with the Leafs and several other teams, like the Dallas Stars or the Utah Mammoth, who are interested in acquiring a right-shot defenseman.
The Maple Leafs already have an expensive D-man in the form of Morgan Rielly. With a cap hit of $7.5 million and a no-move clause to protect him from the vagaries of trade, Rielly is going nowhere.
Moreover, David Alter pointed out that the Leafs lack adequate tradeable assets. If a trade for Hamilton were to be discussed between the Devils and the Maple Leafs, the latter could be seen as lacking the resources to strike a fair trade.
