Dougie Hamilton to the Maple Leafs: Ain’t Happening!

Elliotte Friedman was a guest on Sportsnet’s 590 The Fan’s radio “Lead Off” show this past week and reported some mutual interest between Dougie Hamilton and the Toronto Maple Leafs. On the face of it, part of that scenario makes perfect sense for two reasons. First, there certainly is a mood for change in the roster. Second, Morgan Rielly’s on an expiring contract after the 2021-22 season and the Maple Leafs have an oft-repeated propensity to love their internal rentals to the point of losing them to free agency and getting nothing in return.

That practice of losing talent and gaining nothing in return just doesn’t seem to be make good hockey business sense. You can’t build a team by throwing away opportunities to get return on your players, especially if you need to whittle down your salary-cap hit. And this is where it doesn’t seem to make sense to me.

Related: Maple Leafs Have a Plan for Trying to Replace Zach Hyman

Suddenly We Learned What Hamilton Wants for Salary

Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported that Hamilton’s agent J.P. Barry is engaged in several conversations with NHL clubs. The 28-year-old defenseman will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and was granted permission by the Carolina Hurricanes to find a home prior free agency opening. However, and here’s the rub: Luke Fox of Sportsnet reported that Hamilton was looking for a long-term deal at something a bit over $8 million each season.

That’s simply too rich for the Maple Leafs’ salary-cap space. However, I think fortunately for the Maple Leafs, there’s a good chance that one of the teams talking with Hamilton’s agent might pony up more money than Toronto can muster.

There are Questions about a Hamilton Fit in Toronto

Still, Friedman spun Hamilton’s value. First, he commented that he believed Hamilton would help stabilize the team’s defense. Second, he reported that he’s been told Hamilton would be interested in heading Toronto’s way because from Ontario’s capital city. However, third, Friedman reported that Hamilton’s personality might not fit well with the Maple Leafs’ locker room.

Given what Auston Matthews reported about how tight knit and “loving” he said the Maple Leafs’ locker room was – even after the loss to the Canadiens – there’s a sense that Hamilton might not be a good match with that locker room. He’s simply too aloof.

Some Little Things also Concern Me

From my perspective, the fact that he hasn’t been with any team longer than three seasons sort of gives credence to the thought that something’s a bit odd. Hamilton is a great player, and no one contests it. However, his tenure with the Boston Bruins, the Calgary Flames, and last the Carolina Hurricanes has all been limited to three seasons. Furthermore, he’s always been the best player in both trades he’s been in. That to me, says something.

Specifically, in 2015 he was traded from the Boston Bruins to the Calgary Flames for round one pick in the 2015 draft (which turned out to be Zachary Senyshyn), a round two pick in the 2015 NHL Entry draft (which turned out to be Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson), and round two pick in the 2015 draft (which turned out to be Jeremy Lauzon). In 2018, he was traded from Calgary Flames with with Adam Fox and Micheal Ferland to the Carolina Hurricanes for Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm. Both Hanifin and Lindholm are decent hockey players, but they aren’t Hamilton.

All that said, he’s a great offensive defenseman. He might even be growing into a good defensive defenseman. But for $8 million I think he’s priced himself out of the Toronto market. To sign him, Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas would likely have to let Alex Kerfoot go to the Seattle Kraken via of the expansion draft, let Zach Hyman move into free agency and sign somewhere else, and trade Morgan Rielly this offseason. As Luke Fox of Sportsnet wrote, Rielly is the “heart-and-soul component” of the Maple Leafs’ roster. That’s a lot of quality on the way out.

Hamilton to the Maple Leafs Shouldn’t Happen

It’s been a rumor for a long time that Hamilton is connected somehow to the Maple Leafs. I know these are different times than a decade ago. That said, the Maple Leafs once owned Hamilton’s rights but traded them to the Boston Bruins, with a 2010 first-round draft pick that turned out to be Tyler Seguin, and a 2010 second-round draft pick that turned out to be Jared Knight (who’s now playing in Denmark) for none other than Phil Kessel. If that doesn’t give Maple Leafs’ fans pause to ponder by itself, nothing will.

Still every time Hamilton is rumored to be on the move, he seems headed toward the Maple Leafs. However, given the team’s ethos and personality, what the Maple Leafs likely would have to move to accommodate Hamilton’s $8 million ask, and the fact that the salary-cap is flat for the next while, I think it’s time to put those Hamilton to the Maple Leafs rumors to bed.

Related: Corey Perry: The Player the Maple Leafs Let Get Away