Dougie Hamilton’s agent says the New Jersey Devils are scratching the defenseman for business reasons rather than performance issues. The team announced Hamilton won’t play Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets.
“Dougie was informed today that he will not be playing now that (Johnathan) Kovacevic is back in the lineup,” J.P. Barry told Pierre LeBrun of TSN on Saturday.
“In our view, this decision is all about business rather than his game right now. Singling him out seems very calculated at this stage.”
Barry said the team’s been trying to move Hamilton since last year’s draft. The 14-year veteran has a 10-team no-trade list that’s complicated potential deals.
“We have made it clear to the Devils that we will consider teams outside our list and other creative ways to get to a team that is mutually acceptable,” Barry added.
Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe denied the scratching is meant to pressure Hamilton into waiving his no-movement clause.
“I don’t care about any of that stuff,” Keefe said, according to Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com. “I’m putting a lineup together. I like what (Simon Nemec) brings. I think we need more of what Kovy brings at this point in time.”
Keefe wants to shake up the blue line. “Dougie is the odd man out,” he told team reporter Amanda Stein.
Hamilton carries a $9 million cap hit through 2027-28. He’s posted just 10 points in 40 games this season for the struggling Devils.
The 32-year-old signed a seven-year, $63-million deal with New Jersey in July 2021. His limited production has coincided with the team’s disappointing season.
