That’s according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrunDougie Hamilton’s healthy scratch from the New Jersey Devils’ lineup on Saturday could be trade-related. The player is reportedly working with the team to come up with an option to move him, Hamilton’s agent says.
While Hamilton is one of the team’s better defenders, the organization pays him a lot of money to produce, and he has three points since Nov. 1.
LeBrun writes:
“I contacted Dougie Hamilton’s agent JP Barry. His response: “Dougie was told today that he will not play now that Kovacevic is back in the line-up. In our view, this decision is about business and not about his playing at the moment. “
The agent and the player feel the Devils could make this move to keep Hamilton out of the lineup and avoid a potential injury.
Barry added: “It seems very calculated at this stage to single him out. Dougie has a 10-team trade list and there have been attempts to trade him by going back to last year’s draft. We have made it clear to the Devils that we will consider teams outside our list and other creative ways to arrive at a mutually agreeable team.”
LeBrun notes that if the Hamilton camp is willing to be flexible beyond a 10-team roster, that means finding a suitable team in a slot.
Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald also commented: “This is just Dougie being the odd one out, with our right side being fully healthy for the first time this year. This is business. Our lineup business!”
He added: “And the return of Kovacevic gives our squad a spark that we are looking for, and he was our best defensive back over the last year.”
Next: Finding its rhythm: The “Skinner Watch” continues in Pittsburgh
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