Hamilton Stays But Hughes Rises | New Jersey Devils News

New Jersey Devils News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 8, 2026 · 1m

The New Jersey Devils are reportedly keeping Dougie Hamilton despite his hefty salary, but the real question is whether he can anchor a championship defense at age 33. While Hamilton showed serious defensive growth last season—especially in positioning and playmaking—he’s not quite measuring up as the team’s true No. 1 defenseman, with Luke Hughes edging him out in some metrics. With Hamilton’s contract likely limiting his role to second or third pairing, the real hope lies with Hughes, who’s primed for a breakout year with full camp prep, more experience, and potential system tweaks—making…