If the New Jersey Devils had a comeback on their mind, the Winnipeg Jets wreaked havoc on those plans. Recovering from a nightmarish stretch, the Jets, hungry for redemption, dealt the Devils a cruel 4-3 defeat at the Canada Life Centre on Sunday. With that, New Jersey has extended its losing streak to four games.
Under such dire circumstances, it comes as little surprise that trade rumors surrounding defenseman Dougie Hamilton have gained currency. Suitors for the blueliner are in abundance, and it is a good mix of Eastern and Western Conference teams.
New Jersey Devils’ Dougie Hamilton Trade Rumors Heat Up
Tom Fitzgerald has made it known that it was all just “business,” that Johnathan Kovacevic was back, and Hamilton ought to be out of the lineup because there is no way that Simon Nemec or Brett Pesce could be. Hamilton’s agent, J.P. Barry, has squarely made it known that the move by the Devils management to single out Hamilton had little to do with the defenseman’s performances.
Of course, on the ice, Hamilton, who is in the fifth year of his seven-year, $63 million contract with the Devils, has seen better days. In the 40 games he has played this season, he has accumulated 10 points. However, Hamilton is more than willing to part ways with the franchise. He would even go so far as to consider teams even outside his original 10-team trade list. With that, interest in the 32-year-old has really intensified around the league.
“I’d keep an eye on the Ducks, Leafs, Knights, Red Wings, and Mammoth. I think something happens really soon,” noted an NHL source, as reported by James Murphy of RGMedia. According to the same source, a move surrounding Hamilton could happen sooner than later.
A trade could have happened sooner if things were up to the New Jersey front office. Fitzgerald had squarely stated that with Kovacevic back, a decision to expedite things regarding a move surrounding Hamilton was solely a lineup decision. To that end, an NHL source has shed light on how the management must have felt that it was high time for a trade to finally happen.
“That was a lineup decision, but it was also a message that enough is enough. It hasn’t worked out, and by all accounts, Hamilton has vetoed trades and prevented the Devils from making moves they believe could help their team right now,” the source weighed in on the issue, as reported by Murphy.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Utah Mammoth, two teams that were a part of the defenseman’s 10-team no-trade clause, are reported to be interested in him, as per the same source.
With the defenseman finally agreeing to come up with more creative solutions to resolve the issue, Hamilton could be headed to another destination soon.
