Latest Jersey Desires to Clear Cap Space, But Hamilton May Wait
Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period joined Steve Kouleas and Jason Strudwick on Sirius XM NHL Network on Thursday. He was asked in regards to the Latest Jersey Devils and their plans for Dougie Hamilton following Luke Hughes‘ injury.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL Rumors: Dougie Hamilton and Latest Jersey, and Rasmus Andersson and Boston
Jason Strudwick: “Dougie Hamilton has had an off-season offensively. He’s had some injury issues his or an appetite, or a fairly strong appetite around NHL, and the assumption that he is healthier than he’s shown, had two years left at $9 million in an interest to amass this player with possibly just just a little bit more of just money, sorry, like, just take his contract on greater than possibly a return.”
Dave Pagnotta: “I believe from a return side of things, like I don’t, I haven’t gotten the sense that Latest Jersey just desires to eliminate him entirely. They need something back. Yes, they definitely need to unlock space. It is likely to be just a little bit different now, with what happened to Luke Hughes, and he’s on LTIR. They need to work out exactly what his definitive timeline is when it comes to potential for playoffs or not.
So there’s just a little bit more flexibility now from that side of things, at the least for this season. Even prior to that, I never really got the sense that it was just take the $9 million and run or like, if we could unlock five, that’s it. They need to unlock the chunk. But they’re going to need to bring something back. Plus, there’s an asset here. And also you’re right, there are teams across the league that also view him as someone that might help their defensive corps.
And that this season, the best way he’s performed has been an off 12 months for him, and that he can get back to it under different circumstances, away from the distraction. And really, the distraction for him has passed through the summer. I mean, it was talked about across the draft. There was obviously the deal that didn’t occur with San Jose in July that carried on into the season, where we began the 12 months in October, we began to listen to his name again. So we’re hearing it. He’s actually hearing it.
NHL Rumors: Latest Jersey Devils Need to Make a Dougie Hamilton Trade That Makes Sense
And that affects the player. So I give him a bye on this 12 months when it comes to performance without delay due to distractions that he’s needed to take care of. A change of scenery would probably do him justice. But what kind of player is he? Is he a primary pair, right side, second pair, right side? Third pair, right side. I believe loads of people view him in that, in that middle tier without delay, and there’s still value actually for that.”
NHLRumors.com Note: While the Latest Jersey Devils proceed to get calls on Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes being out past the Olympics changes lots for a team that’s attempting to get into the playoffs. Yes, GM Tom Fitzgerald desires to clear cap space and add to the club, but not on the expense of missing the playoffs. He still believes his team is a playoff team.
NHL Rumors: Latest Jersey Devils Wants Assets Back in a Dougie Hamilton Trade
Hamilton’s agent, J.P. Barry, joined Donnie and Dahli and said he would check back with the Devils to see where things stood with the teams that reached out and what their plans were in light of the Hughes injury.
The Devils are playing higher, and Hamilton has six assists since his scratch. Could the $7.4 million signing bonus play an element? There are still many moving parts. The Devils want something in return for Dougie Hamilton. They don’t need to weaken their team at this point.
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