Listen, when a player like Dougie Hamilton could be moved, you have to at least inquire about him. Right now, the Detroit Red Wings aren't good enough, at least not yet, to make the playoffs. But a player of Hamilton's caliber would transform a blue line and give the team another two-way option who would make them stronger at 5-on-5 and on the man advantage.
Hamilton proved it last season when he found the net five times at 5-on-4, and 15 of his 40 points and nine goals came on the power play. I get that he'll cost some in compensation, but Yzerman needs to stop being so hesitant to trade players who are growing up in the system.
And I know, I know, it's not compatible with the Yzerplan, but I'm once again going to revert to the fact that the Wings, for years in a row, have proven they can contend. They need a player that will put them over the top, and Hamilton's that missing link in the top four.
The Detroit Red Wings would be an excellent fit for Dougie Hamilton
Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report listed the Red Wings as one of "five trade landing spots," alongside the Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets, and San Jose Sharks. And trust me, if the Maple Leafs landed Hamilton, they might just break one of their own longtime droughts.
Meanwhile, if you're the Wings, you can put Hamlton right onto the second pairing alongside Simon Edvinsson, and you'll immediately have a dynamic one-two combo featuring a young player and a seasoned veteran.
Hamilton would also be in the Motor City for a while should the Devils trade him and the Wings land him. He's got another three years left on his contract, which carries a $9 million AAV.
Hamilton has a no-movement clause, so he'd need to agree to the trade. But, for a player who could be the missing link on the blue line between now and 2027-28 while the youngsters develop, it's a trade the Wings can't lose.
What should the trade package look like for Hamilton if you're the Wings?
The Devils figure to be serious contenders this season, so it would be hard to roll against giving them an NHL-caliber talent. He can obviously still play, but Hamilton's become injury prone over the past couple of seasons, playing in just 84 of a possible 164 contests.
New Jersey would also trade Hamilton to free up cap space, and if they want to keep youngsters like Luke Hughes around, trading away Hamilton would be a strong priority. That said, the Devils could look to settle for something less, maybe a second-round pick and a high-end prospect like Nate Danielson.
Hey, you need to give them something to work with, and the Wings have a deep list of prospects at forward. That said, I wouldn't offer someone like Danielson early on unless the Devils insisted otherwise.
I wouldn't offer a first-round pick because Hamilton is injury prone and it's also why I'd keep current NHL talent away from a trade like this. Now, if you wanted someone more unproven but with upside, like Elmer Soderblom, then I'd be happy to make that swap.
Now, if you wanted a first-round pick for Hamilton, then I'd be glad to part ways with a mid-tier prospect. But as you can see, I wouldn't give up an incredible amount of compensation for a proven, but injury-riddled player. That said, if the price is right, make the trade.
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