Just when it seemed like the Toronto Maple Leafs were destined to potentially have great difficulty in returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they’ve suddenly come back to life by having won seven of their last 10 games, during which they’ve only suffered a single regulation setback
That being said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Toronto general manager Brad Treliving dip into the trade market once again in an effort to bolster his roster.
One such name that could potentially be of interest to the Maple Leafs is New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who is currently in limbo with the Devils and expects to be moved soon.
NHL Insider Nick Kypreos believes that an acquisition by the Maple Leafs of Hamilton would not only bolster the back end, but would take some pressure off top Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly.
“You bring in Hamilton,” Kypreos said. “He checks off a few boxes, and the number one thing is he can get up and down the ice and alleviate a lot of that stuff off of Morgan (Rielly).
“But you’re not giving up, Morgan. You’re finding a way to say, ‘Listen, Jersey, you don’t like him. You want to get rid of him. We’ll take him off. You may have to eat a little bit.'”
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A Toronto Maple Leafs Acquisition Of Dougie Hamilton Would Likely Require Salary Retention
Hamilton is not an inexpensive player, as he’s currently owed $9 million in each of the next two seasons.
In order to facilitate a trade between the Devils and Maple Leafs, Kypreos noted that the Devils would likely have to retain a considerable chunk of what Hamilton is owed financially.
“Take $2 million,” Kypreos said. “Three would be nice. Three would be real nice.”
Earlier in the week, Kypreos had also suggested using goaltender Anthony Stolarz, whom the Maple Leafs recently extended for another four seasons, as a trade chip thanks to not only the presence of Joseph Woll in the crease but the emergence of prospect goaltender Dennis Hildeby in his absence.
“There are teams out there that need a goalie and not a lot is available at the position,” Kypreos wrote. “So, if Anthony Stolarz can come back and be healthy for a stretch, he’s a trade chip they could use.”
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Dougie Hamilton Could Help Offset The Loss Of Chris Tanev
Veteran Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev has appeared in only 11 total games this season, having already missed considerable time with separate injuries.
His most recent setback took place in late December in an overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings, and there’s a real possibility that he won’t play again this season.
It’s becoming more and more clear that Hamilton’s time with the Devils is winding down after recently being made a healthy scratch, and suiting up for the Maple Leafs could represent the kind of fresh start that he needs.
While he isn’t the physical and bruising kind of defenseman that Tanev is, Hamilton is right-handed and also has been known for his offensive contributions.
Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Proposal Takes Advantage Of Struggling Rival