One of the bigger free agent names on the board Wednesday has finally come off the board. Dougie Hamilton has signed a UFA deal with the New Jersey Devils. One of the league’s top offensive defenceman, he’s committed for seven season at a rate of $9 million per season.
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Hamilton has a ton of skill, an elite shot and loves to use it to drive the play. He’s not always the most well-rounded defensemen, but he’s been in the Norris Trophy voting multiple times and has skill for days. The biggest knock on the player seems to be that he’s well traveled throughout his NHL career and there are questions as to why.
NHL scribe Larry Brooks reported a few days ago that the New Jersey Devils were in hot pursuit of pending UFA defenseman they were willing to offer a lucrative deal to get him signed this offseason. Apparently, there was mutual interest from Hamilton’s camp, but for some reason, it took a while on the first day of free agency to finalize things.
Brooks wrote the Devils had been sending out emails and links to a website for potential free agents and that this, along with a $63 million offer might convince Hamilton that New Jersey is the right fit moving forward. Brooks noted the Devils were trying to get “Dougie Hamilton to sign on with a Devils team that is overflowing with young guys who are not yet ready for prime time but is still searching for a foundation that will support the growth of the Hughes Bros., Ty Smith, young veteran Nico Hischier and the like.” They think Hamilton is that guy.
He also noted that Hamilton had been previously linked to the Seattle Kraken but that he might have been leaning towards the Devils now and that his contract would essentially replace P.K. Subban’s when Subban’s deal expires at the end of the season.
Next: Keith Yandle to Sign with New Team Before NHL Free Agency Opens
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