New Jersey Devils’ 2025-26 Report Cards: Dougie Hamilton – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils’ 2025-26 season was a whirlwind of unpredictability, featuring no shortage of injuries, instability, and scoring slumps. Despite making a decent push at the very end of the season, they were unable to secure a postseason spot. Finishing the season 42-37-3, the Devils are looking to have an active offseason as they try to take another step toward becoming a serious Stanley Cup contender.

All season long, every player on the roster contributed one way or another, with some making a greater impact than others. This installment focuses on defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who had an interesting season filled with both highs and lows.

Hamilton’s 2025-26 Performance

Hamilton’s 2025-26 performance can be described in one word: tumultuous. Known for being an offensive defenseman, he struggled greatly at the start of the season. After earning seven points in October, he had just one assist across November. Likewise, he was sidelined for a brief time with a lower-body injury, then went pointless throughout all of December.

But he made an impressive comeback in the second half of the season. Following a healthy scratch against the Winnipeg Jets in January, Hamilton went on a ten-game point streak, tallying 12 points within that time frame.

In total, he wrapped up the season with 39 points, which led all Devils’ defensemen but still marked a decline from previous seasons. Not only was Hamilton on the ice for 21 more goals against than last season, but he also saw a 41.5% uptick in scoring chances against. However, he did fare better than most of the team during 5-on-5 scenarios, scoring six of his 12 goals within those situations.

Additionally, Hamilton did excel at generating scoring chances. Based on data from NHL Edge, he ranked in the 98th percentile in shots on goal among the league’s defensemen, with 203 throughout 2025-26. He even led the Devils’ blue line in a wide variety of rates, including goals for (3.18 GF/60), shots for (32.59 SF/60), and high-danger scoring chances (14.76 HDCF/60). All in all, Hamilton might have had a difficult start to the season, but he managed to bounce back and make a significant impact.

Hamilton’s Impact on the Devils

There’s no denying that Hamilton was a catalyst in the Devils becoming a team committed to winning. He turned the tide in New Jersey, moving the struggling team one step closer to being a playoff contender five years ago.

He signed a seven-year, $63 million contract as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in 2021 and was brought on as a complementary veteran defenseman. Since then, he’s recorded 199 points in 305 regular-season games with the Devils, along with six points in 17 playoff games.

As a crucial veteran defenseman, he’s not only strengthened the Devils’ offense but also plays a key role on their power play. Even after being demoted from their top power-play unit this season, Hamilton still recorded 14 points, 70 shot attempts, and 33 shots on the man advantage.

For the last five seasons, he’s been a difference-maker in terms of his high shot volume, special teams contributions, and seasoned leadership. His point production might have slowed in recent seasons, but he continues to be an offensive powerhouse. So long as he remains healthy, Hamilton can be an elite defenseman, as shown by his career-high 74 points during the 2022-23 season.

Even when he experienced point lulls in 2025-26, his impact should not be understated. He still managed a 77-game campaign, while the rest of the team dealt with countless injuries and lineup adjustments.

Hamilton’s Future With the Devils

After being the subject of trade rumors all season long, Hamilton’s future in New Jersey is one of the team’s biggest uncertainties. Even though he salvaged his performance this season, his $9 million average annual value (AAV) is still a major source of debate. With two years still left in his contract, it’s time for the Devils to decide on whether or not to move on.

During locker cleanout last week, Hamilton politely declined to speak to the media. On a recent episode of Hello Hockey, NHL insider David Pagnotta revealed that he is still in the market for a trade — even though he blocked a move by the San Jose Sharks, who tried to acquire him last summer.

Now that the team is in the market for a retool this summer, trading away Hamilton could be a great way to free up cap space. Plus, the team has two tenacious young defensemen in the form of Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec. Together, the two represent the future of the Devils’ blue line, and both are known for their offensive abilities. But only time will tell if they can fill Hamilton’s shoes.

Overall Grade

Following Hamilton’s whirlwind of a season, his overall grade for 2025-26 is a B+. He made an exceptional comeback during the second half of the season but struggled at times. Unfortunately, it appears that his time with the Devils could come to an end at some point this summer. Between his high cap hit, decreased impact, and frequent injuries, the team needs to weigh his potential liabilities with his offensive contributions. 

Likewise, clearing out his salary would provide opportunities to improve other areas, such as goaltending and secondary scoring. But if he continues his high-octane pace from the end of the season, it will be hard to replace his contributions on the back end for 2026-27.