Dougie Hamilton Could Be Trade Target for Devils’ Division Rival
The New Jersey Devils secured a playoff spot last season, fending off tough competition from teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers. Columbus, in particular, came close, missing the postseason by just two points. Both teams are aiming for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026, and they each have a legitimate chance to make it. 
For the Devils, their talented roster, along with potential internal growth from players like Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec, could push them near the top of the Metropolitan Division. However, Columbus is also poised for improvement. With young stars like Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson possibly taking the next step in their development, the Blue Jackets could become a formidable team in the 2025-26 season.
Given the rivalry between these teams, a trade between them could also be in the cards. Bleacher Report’s Adam Getz suggests that the Blue Jackets could be a good fit for veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton.
“Not only would Hamilton improve their defense, but Columbus has one of the largest salary cap spaces in the league. The Blue Jackets had high expectations for this offseason, and while they haven’t made a splash yet, they should make another attempt,” Getz wrote.
Blue Jackets Still Seeking to Improve Roster
Columbus came close to making the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 COVID-19 bubble tournament. General manager Don Waddell had expressed a desire to make significant moves this summer, but they haven’t materialized yet.
The Blue Jackets were in the mix for New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson but ultimately lost out. Dobson was traded to the Montreal Canadiens during the 2025 NHL Draft in exchange for Emil Heineman and two first-round picks.
Columbus has several ways they could improve their roster, and as Getz mentioned, bolstering their defense should be a priority. Aside from Norris Trophy finalist Zach Werenski, their blue line wasn’t especially strong last season. Adding Hamilton would give them much-needed star power alongside Werenski.
Dougie Hamilton May Become a Cap Casualty for the Devils
Trading a player of Dougie Hamilton’s caliber might seem unusual for New Jersey, especially since he posted nine goals and 40 points last season, marking his eighth 40-point season in his career. However, the Devils face salary cap constraints as they look to re-sign Luke Hughes, one of the top defensive prospects in the league. Hughes is a restricted free agent and will require a significant raise, while New Jersey only has $6.13 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia, which likely won’t be enough to keep him.
To make room for Hughes, the Devils may have to move a high-salary player, and Hamilton could be the one to go. While Hamilton is an effective offensive defenseman when healthy, he has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, missing 18 games in 2024-25 and 62 games in 2023-24. Despite his injury history, Hamilton still holds significant trade value. Teams like Columbus would certainly be interested if he becomes available.
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