3 teams that should consider trading for Dougie Hamilton

Dougie Hamilton's time with the New Jersey Devils could soon be coming to an end.

The Devils made the veteran blue-liner a healthy scratch Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets. Hamilton's agent, J.P. Barry, called the move a "calculated" business decision, adding that the team has tried to trade him dating back to the 2025 NHL Draft.

Trading Hamilton will be complicated. He's under contract for two more seasons after 2025-26 with a $9-million cap hit. His pact also includes a 10-team trade list, though Hamilton is apparently willing to be flexible on that front.

"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," Barry said.

But in order for the Devils to trade Hamilton, they'll likely have to retain a significant portion of his contract, attach a sweetener that would entice a club to take on the entirety of his deal, or take back an equally undesirable contract.

Hamilton is 32 years old and in the midst of his worst season in over a decade. His foot speed has declined, he takes a lot of penalties, and he's not the dangerous offensive threat he once was.

That's not to say it's all bad though. Hamilton's underlying numbers this season are OK. He's still a serviceable NHLer, just clearly not worth $9 million anymore.

Hamilton's a 6-foot-6, 230-pound right-shot defenseman. That alone is usually enough to get NHL general managers excited in some capacity.

So, which teams should consider adding him?

San Jose Sharks

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that San Jose attempted to trade for Hamilton in the summer, but Hamilton blocked the move. Perhaps he'd be willing to reconsider now that the Sharks are in a playoff spot and the Devils are floundering.

It would be understandable if San Jose didn't want to alter its team chemistry. However, this is a club that has just just two defensemen signed beyond 2025-26 (Dmitry Orlov and Sam Dickinson) and needed to add the final year of Carey Price's contract just to reach the cap floor this season.

The Sharks will need to bring in defensemen in the summer, and the list of pending unrestricted free-agent blue-liners isn't the most exciting bunch, especially considering many of them will likely re-sign before July 1. They'll also need to add salary once again to get to the cap floor.

Hamilton would instantly be, at worst, San Jose's second-best right-shot defenseman and a boost for the team's playoff push.

If the Sharks can land a worthwhile prospect or draft pick from the Devils for taking on Hamilton's contract, it would be a no-brainer move.

Nashville Predators

The Predators are back in the playoff mix after an awful start. Adding to a veteran group without sacrificing the future would be the best of both worlds for GM Barry Trotz, and that's exactly what a trade for Hamilton could entail.

Nashville has $11.9 million in cap space and would provide an easy fit for Hamilton in the lineup. He'd be an upgrade over all three of its right-shot defensemen (Nick Perbix, Justin Barron, and Nick Blankenburg). Hamilton could elevate his game playing alongside Roman Josi or Brady Skjei, a former teammate with the Carolina Hurricanes.

A rebuild could be inevitable in Nashville in the coming years. But if the Predators can rehabilitate Hamilton's game, they could potentially eat half his salary a year or two from now and flip him for a positive return.

Calgary Flames

A second stint in Calgary? Even though Hamilton enjoyed three strong seasons with the Flames from 2015-18, it would be understandable if he vetoed a move there. The club's chances of being competitive in the next few years are low, and Calgary's harsh winters aren't overly inviting. But the Flames should absolutely welcome a reunion if they can get Hamilton on board.

They need to weaponize their $18 million in cap space to help collect prospects and draft picks to advance their rebuild. The Flames could theoretically turn Hamilton into another pick or prospect in a year or two if he plays reasonably well and they retain half his salary.

There will be minutes for Hamilton on the right side of Calgary's blue line, assuming pending UFA Rasmus Andersson gets moved before the deadline. While the front office should want the team to bottom out this year, it likely doesn't want to put too much on the plates of young defensemen Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz.