After being scratched on Jan. 11 in a move that appeared to put his future with the New Jersey Devils in doubt, Dougie Hamilton might be set to stay put in the wake of Luke Hughes' shoulder injury.
Hughes, who left Monday's win over the Calgary Flames, was placed on long-term injured reserve Wednesday and is trying to return without having to undergo surgery — a decision that has played into Hamilton's trade market, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
"(Hughes) is going to be out for a little bit. And what that has done is bring the Dougie Hamilton derby to a crawl or a standstill," Friedman explained on the Saturday Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada. "Now I don't think it's impossible (a trade happens), but I think if someone came to the Devils with something they couldn't say no to, they would do it."
Also contributing to trade talks around Hamilton slowing has been the 32-year-old's recent play.
After being scratched in that early January contest, Hamilton has played in each of New Jersey's six games and been a key contributor in the team's 5-1 record. He has totalled seven assists and a plus-3 rating since returning to the ice and is now riding a seven-game point streak.
"At least for the time being, the Devils need him. He's played very well, so it's slowed this down," Friedman said.
With his recent surge, Hamilton is up to 17 points while averaging 21:33 of ice time in 46 games this season.
After the initial scratch, Friedman reported that Hamilton's agent felt the move was made to force his client into accepting a trade, as the right-shot defenceman owns a partial no-trade clause this season.
With two years left on his contract after 2025-26, Hamilton is due $8.4 million next season and a $7.4 million bonus in the summer.
Hamilton was forced out of the Devils' D-corps by the return of Johnny Kovacevic, who missed the beginning of the season as he recovered from a knee injury.
But with room opening up following Hughes' injury and Hamilton returning to solid form, the Devils appear primed to hold onto the veteran in order to chase a playoff berth.
New Jersey is currently four points behind the Boston Bruins in the chase for a wild-card spot, with a 27-22-2 record.
The Devils will look to keep their momentum going on Sunday against the Seattle Kraken (3 p.m. ET / Noon PT on Sportsnet, Sportsnet+) as they conclude a four-game Western road trip.
