NHL insider Elliott Friedman reported over the weekend that Devils Defender Dougie Hamilton shut down a trade that would have sent him to the Sharks over the off-season.
This has seemingly created some tension between the Devils and Hamilton, who was recently healthy scratched for what Hamilton’s agent cited as a “business decision.”
It appears the two sides are heading towards a split, and one has to wonder whether the Sharks are still interested in Hamilton. It’s no surprise Hamilton had little interest in joining the Sharks in the offseason. Coming off back-to-back basement finishes, even with some promising young players, the Sharks still looked years away from contention. Not an attractive proposition for the 32-year-old Hamilton.
But midway through the year, the Sharks find themselves in a playoff spot in the West, in large part thanks to the play of superstar center Macklin Celebrini. It wouldn't be unreasonable for Hamilton to have a change of heart, given how his situation with the Devils has gone.
On the ice, Hamilton has had a down year offensively with 10 points in 40 games, but the underlying metrics are still strong, and his role in San Jose would likely see him get more offensive responsibility given the shape of their backend.
Still, though, the Sharks may not see Hamilton as an attractive option at this point. They likely pivoted to John Klingberg after Hamilton spurned them, and Klingberg has had a solid second half after a slow start. They may not see the need to add Hamilton and his contract as much as they did in the off-season.
Still, I believe it would be a worthwhile bet. The Sharks can easily absorb the remaining two years of Hamilton's deal after this season, with the amount of ELCs coming up through the system, and it would likely help them reach the floor after Price’s contract comes off the books after this season. The acquisition cost shouldn't be that high either. Given Hamilton’s contract interest wouldn't be that high, and in all likelihood, a deal around one of the Sharks' expiring D contracts, like a Nick Leddy or a Timothy Liljegren, plus a day 2 draft pick, likely gets it across the finish line.
The Sharks have been a surprise playoff team, and should be looking at low-cost options to improve their roster and fill holes. Don’t expect Grier to make aggressive trades on short-term options, but he should look to give his young roster some confidence for the way they have played this season. Going after Hamilton would be a good start.