Proposal: Hamilton to DAL (2025 Off-season)

[theoptimist]

A bunch of posters think DH is done and it just isn't so. Just correcting that narrative. Let's see where he is at 50-55 game point this season. He's PP1 for the moment and Luke still isn't it. He is the replacement but not yet.

He’s done making $9M on NJD. He can collect his salary elsewhere. We have to downsize to address other roster needs and have younger players who can grow to contribute similarly 5 v 5. Luke should run PP1 full time next season.

 

[bossram]

A bunch of posters think DH is done and it just isn't so. Just correcting that narrative. Let's see where he is at 50-55 game point this season. He's PP1 for the moment and Luke still isn't it. He is the replacement but not yet.

No. This is literally not true.

What some Devils fans are (correctly) diagnosing is that Dougie is slowing down physically, and given his age, decline is expected. With the plethora of young, offensively-inclined defensemen in the system, it makes sense to pre-emptively move Dougie before there is a dramatic drop-off, recoup some value, and reallocate his cap dollars elsewhere in the lineup.

Your argument is nothing more than, "but look at the points column on HockeyDB"

 

[Smitty426]

He’s done making $9M on NJD. He can collect his salary elsewhere. We have to downsize to address other roster needs and have younger players who can grow to contribute similarly 5 v 5. Luke should run PP1 full time next season.

I'd wait to see how 43 finishes the season. He does not have the shot DH has. That was s large part of our downfall last yr. If cap rises to 97M as rumored, another yr is fine, he can hand Luke the reins then

 

[Smitty426]

No. This is literally not true.

What some Devils fans are (correctly) diagnosing is that Dougie is slowing down physically, and given his age, decline is expected. With the plethora of young, offensively-inclined defensemen in the system, it makes sense to pre-emptively move Dougie before there is a dramatic drop-off, recoup some value, and reallocate his cap dollars elsewhere in the lineup.

Your argument is nothing more than, "but look at the points column on HockeyDB"

Luke was terrible last yr in that spot.
He's a dynamic skater and WILL be good as the heir apparent. He doesn't have any type of a shot to consider it better than DH. What short memories we have. I'm open minded to see how he finishes the season (and where devs go in the post season) but it's too early

Also, it is true, take a quick look around this site

 

[HugeInTheShire]

I'd wait to see how 43 finishes the season. He does not have the shot DH has. That was s large part of our downfall last yr. If cap rises to 97M as rumored, another yr is fine, he can hand Luke the reins then

If Hughes is taking PP1 from Hamilton the Devils will need to find a shooter, they won't have a serious shot threat on PP1 with Hughes x2, Bratt, Nico and Nose.

 

[dgibb10]

If Hughes is taking PP1 from Hamilton the Devils will need to find a shooter, they won't have a serious shot threat on PP1 with Hughes x2, Bratt, Nico and Nose.

We'd need to find a guy like Stamkos (right shot sniper who wins faceoffs) for our PP to replace Nico on it tbh.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

We'd need to find a guy like Stamkos (right shot sniper who wins faceoffs) for our PP to replace Nico on it tbh.

I agree, I like Nico but he's better suited for PP2 in this hypothetical scenario, personally I wouldn't mind having PP1 and PP2 be a lot closer in TOI with Jack staying on with both units.

 

[dgibb10]

I agree, I like Nico but he's better suited for PP2 in this hypothetical scenario, personally I wouldn't mind having PP1 and PP2 be a lot closer in TOI with Jack staying on with both units.

I wonder if there would be some way to buy retention on stamkos to a more feasible dollar if NSH does go full rebuild after this year.

I think he'd be a great fit to replace what we need on the power play. Because nico imo is the number 5, but we need a faceoff guy.

Noesen-Stamkos-Bratt
Jack-Luke

Meier-Nico-Mercer
Jack-Nemec

 

[PAZ]

A bunch of posters think DH is done and it just isn't so. Just correcting that narrative. Let's see where he is at 50-55 game point this season. He's PP1 for the moment and Luke still isn't it. He is the replacement but not yet.

I don't think people believe DH is done, it's the last 1-2 years of his contract people are commenting on and if he'll be worth that contract. He's already showing small signs of regression. Don't get me wrong he's still a top pairing defenseman, but the question is how much longer.

But regardless, Hamilton has close to full control over this situation. If he wants to stay with New Jersey it won't be hard with his 10 team trade list starting next year. Dallas may be on his list, but if they are New Jersey certainly wouldn't be getting Marchment if there's no retention. Whatever team is trading for Hamilton will know they aren't bidding against anyone else and NJ is looking to dump him.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I don't think people believe DH is done, it's the last 1-2 years of his contract people are commenting on and if he'll be worth that contract. He's already showing small signs of regression. Don't get me wrong he's still a top pairing defenseman, but the question is how much longer.

But regardless, Hamilton has close to full control over this situation. If he wants to stay with New Jersey it won't be hard with his 10 team trade list starting next year. Dallas may be on his list, but if they are New Jersey certainly wouldn't be getting Marchment if there's no retention. Whatever team is trading for Hamilton will know they aren't bidding against anyone else and NJ is looking to dump him.

Yep agree with this.
Also it’s a hard to move contract with the signing bonus numbers, especially this upcoming summer

10.55 signing bonus + 1 million salary
7.4 signing bonus + 1 million salary
5.25 salary

 

[Smitty426]

Yep agree with this.
Also it’s a hard to move contract with the signing bonus numbers, especially this upcoming summer

10.55 signing bonus + 1 million salary
7.4 signing bonus + 1 million salary
5.25 salary

They could always pay the bonus this summer (not my idea) and move him post-bonus. This would be next summer not this
I am in the don't-move-him-anyway camp until summer '26. It's not the best spend of cash, but Zach Parise and Suter got bought out of dumb contracts.
Cap going up makes the difference in all of this.

 

[Golden_Jet]

They could always pay the bonus this summer (not my idea) and move him post-bonus. This would be next summer not this
I am in the don't-move-him-anyway camp until summer '26. It's not the best spend of cash, but Zach Parise and Suter got bought out of dumb contracts.
Cap going up makes the difference in all of this.

Yep then he would be moveable, but you’d have to get him to waive his partial NTC, as a contending team , likely isn’t taking on the cap hit.

 

[dgibb10]

Yep agree with this.
Also it’s a hard to move contract with the signing bonus numbers, especially this upcoming summer

10.55 signing bonus + 1 million salary
7.4 signing bonus + 1 million salary
5.25 salary

He would be traded after the bonus is paid you know that right?

His NMC goes away on july 1st, the signing bonus is also due on july 1st.

The signing bonus structure makes him EASIER to move, not harder.

He's due just 14.5 mill in real money for 3 years in real money to whoever acquires him. (sub 5 mill AAV real money)

 

[dgibb10]

I don't think people believe DH is done, it's the last 1-2 years of his contract people are commenting on and if he'll be worth that contract. He's already showing small signs of regression. Don't get me wrong he's still a top pairing defenseman, but the question is how much longer.

But regardless, Hamilton has close to full control over this situation. If he wants to stay with New Jersey it won't be hard with his 10 team trade list starting next year. Dallas may be on his list, but if they are New Jersey certainly wouldn't be getting Marchment if there's no retention. Whatever team is trading for Hamilton will know they aren't bidding against anyone else and NJ is looking to dump him.

This is NJDs edge.

Hamilton will only be traded if Kovy is resigned, so from there you aren't looking at a great group of RHD available.

 

[Golden_Jet]

He would be traded after the bonus is paid you know that right?

ya I’m sure you know if an owner will write a cheque for almost 11 million, to help trade a player. Not.
You have a zero idea if they’d do that , that’s just hope, you know that right lol.

His NMC goes away on july 1st, the signing bonus is also due on july 1st.

It’s listed as changing to a M-NTC

The signing bonus structure makes him EASIER to move, not harder.

He's due just 14.5 mill in real money for 3 years in real money to whoever acquires him. (sub 5 mill AAV real money)

the cap is the issue unless waives to go to a non contender, and previous NJ fan said they’d keep him next year and move him the year after.

 

[Zippy316]

I'd wait to see how 43 finishes the season. He does not have the shot DH has. That was s large part of our downfall last yr. If cap rises to 97M as rumored, another yr is fine, he can hand Luke the reins then

The big issue here is you don’t resign Kovacevic who so far this year has been an absolute gem of a find. A huge reason you move Hamilton is you can likely resign Kovacevic at almost half the price.

Hughes - Pesce
Siegenthaler - Kovacevic
Dillon - Nemec

It’s obviously not as good as with Hamilton, but if you can free up space to add a quality 5 million dollar forward by moving Hamilton, I think the hit to the defense is worth the benefit up front.