Insider Predicts Maple Leafs Will Win Sweepstakes for $63 Million Defenseman

The Toronto Maple Leafs front office is very likely having conversations as we speak about how they plan to proceed ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. The ups and downs of their 2025–26 season so far have not made for easy decisions, leaving a wide range of possibilities on the table.

What is certain, however, is the franchise’s direction beyond 2025–26: continuing to build around Auston Matthews—and likely William Nylander—in hopes of not only returning to the playoffs but also contending for a Stanley Cup. As a result, even if the Maple Leafs sell at the deadline, you can expect them to do some buying in the process, and one name they can’t seem to escape is Dougie Hamilton.

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Toronto has been linked to the disgruntled New Jersey Devils defenseman throughout the season, and while chatter around a trade has quieted of late, insider James Mirtle still believes the Maple Leafs are best suited to land him, as written in a recent matchmaker article for The Athletic.

Mirtle wrote:

“I was told by a league source that this was highly unlikely in mid-January, but call me stubborn: There’s a good fit here, should the Devils decide to sell low on the big right-shot defenseman. The Leafs’ first attempts at a deal here, per the source, were contingent on a lot of retention — understandably not ideal for New Jersey — but what if they opted to take on the bulk of the AAV? Toronto lacks many high-end picks or prospects, but if this becomes a cap dump, Hamilton brings an intriguing mix, including the ability to quarterback a top power play with star talent. And cap room is no longer an issue in Toronto.

He adds, “The Leafs are going to have to get a lot bolder and take some chances to right the ship next season; swinging hard on an oft-injured $9 million reclamation project qualifies.”

The 32-year-old Hamilton is in year five of the seven-year, $63 million deal signed to join the Devils as a UFA in 2021. He’s recorded 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 52 games played this season, with 12 of those (two goals, 10 assists) coming over his last 13 games before the break.

How Could the Maple Leafs Fit Dougie Hamilton Into the Mix?

As Mirtle mentioned, the Maple Leafs would want—and potentially need—some of Hamilton’s $9 million AAV retained to acquire him in the coming weeks; however, depending on the severity of certain injuries and the movement of other contracts, it might not be as big an issue as originally thought.

New Jersey certainly won’t want to eat half of Hamilton’s salary, but perhaps they’d be willing to retain $1–2 million to help facilitate a deal. Add in the potential of placing Chris Tanev—who appears to be done for the season—on LTIR, and Toronto would already have enough space.

There’s also the possibility that other contracts are shed along the way if the Leafs sell, with Brandon Carlo ($3.485 million), Calle Jarnkrok ($2.1 million), Bobby McMann ($1.35 million), and Nicolas Roy ($3 million) among the names rumored to be on the move.

If GM Brad Treliving can make the money work and acquire Hamilton at a relatively low cost, there’s no question it’s something he has to explore—and by all reports, it sounds like he has and will continue to do so moving forward.

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