Canucks & Devils Have Pieces For Major Trade

The New Jersey Devils are making a shocking move by healthy scratching Dougie Hamilton for their Sunday game. With Simon Nemec back from injury and Johnathan Kovacevic ready to step into the lineup for his first game of the season, the veteran d-man, who's had a tough season and is on the trade block, is having more drastic action taken against him.

Hamilton has a 10-team trade list, but reportedly blocked a trade to the San Jose Sharks at an earlier date. While that's his right as it's in his contract, it seems like the Devils found a trade partner to move Hamilton and open up space to upgrade elsewhere (at forward). It's not that easy to move a $9 million AAV defenseman who's offensively-focused, but has just five goals and 10 points in 40 games while two 22-and-under defensemen have already stepped up into larger roles offensively.

With 10 teams the Devils can freely trade Hamilton to, most of them are likely contenders without the need and cap space to acquire him, making things difficult. But sitting could change Hamilton's mind and expand the team's he'd be willing to be dealt to. The team in mind here is the Vancouver Canucks, who traded their top offensive defenseman and don't seem to be willing to roll over and give up on competing.

While there are certain players that the Canucks could swap out and reshape their roster, whether that be upcoming UFAs or some players with longer term, multiple changes will be coming. There isn't a clear offensive defenseman for Vancouver, so Hamilton fits. So does the cap space, especially if a forward who can score, which is exactly what the Devils need, is going the other way.

Darren Dreger reported that the Canucks are looking to trade Jake DeBrusk, and that the NMC won't necessarily get in the way. DeBrusk has a cap hit of $5.5 million AAV and he is signed for five more years. Hamilton is signed for two more, but there is a path to re-signing him and the Canucks would have a trade asset in the second season if things don't work out.

DeBrusk has scored 25+ goals in three of the past four seasons and 40+ points in the four previous seasons. The Devils desperately need secondary scoring, especially when they deal with injuries. The Canucks would be getting a defenseman to slot in on their top power play and someone who not only put up 40 points last season, but 74 points in 2022-23. Both teams need a change and there's not many teams that fit the needs of the other in this instance like this one.