Dougie Hamilton Not the Flyers Top UFA Offseason Target

There was a lot of talk this week, especially after it was revealed that Dougie Hamilton was granted permission by the Carolina Hurricanes to test the market, that he would be a target of the Philadelphia Flyers. According to a few different reports, including one by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, that is not necessarily the case.

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This isn’t to say that Hamilton wouldn’t be someone the Flyers consider, he’s just not a priority. Friedman writes:

Philadelphia’s got a lot of balls in the air. I figured they’d be in on Hamilton, but, as mentioned above, he doesn’t appear to be their top target. I’m speculating here, but my guesses would include Seth Jones and Matt Dumba (who GM Chuck Fletcher knows very well).”

Friedman also noted that he wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the Flyers inquired about the Arizona Coyotes 2019 first-rounder Victor Soderstrom. He says, “The Flyers liked him at that draft, and Arizona actually flipped picks with them to move up and take the Swedish defenceman.”

That multiple sources have claimed the Flyers aren’t really looking at Hamilton, one has to wonder if that’s a big mistake. He’s arguably the top blue line option available in a half-decent crop of defenseman. And, if he’s potentially shaking loose from this current team, why wouldn’t you consider it?

Flyers Weighing Jones vs. Hamilton

There’s a lot of talk that Seth Jones is on the Flyer’s radar, and it will be interesting if the Flyers go this route. For one, trading for Jones means giving up assets. Two, there’s an extension to worry about. Jones is not a lock to stay put, even if he comes to the Flyers this offseason.

Jones has one more year left on his current contract with a modified no movement clause, paying him just $5.4 million AAV. If the Flyers make a sign-and-trade part of any deal, it takes care of the concern, but that’s not a certainty at this point. Jones may want to play out the year and then make his decision.

Early projections are that Jones may get a five-year deal at around $7 -$8 million AAV. That might be low. Dougie Hamilton will get around the same and probably more, but it costs nothing for the Flyers to acquire him (unless they trade for his rights in the next few weeks) and they don’t stand to lose a player like Travis Konecny and/or Morgan Frost.

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