Agent: Devils scratching Hamilton 'calculated' business decision

Defenseman Dougie Hamilton's agent says he believes the New Jersey Devils are scratching the 14-year veteran ahead of Sunday's game against the Winnipeg Jets due to off-ice reasons.

"Dougie was informed today that he will not be playing now that (Johnathan) Kovacevic is back in the lineup," J.P. Barry told Pierre LeBrun of TSN on Saturday. "In our view, this decision is all about business rather than his game right now. Singling him out seems very calculated at this stage.

"Dougie has a 10-team trade list, and there have been efforts to trade him going back to the draft last year. We have made it clear to the Devils that we will consider teams outside our list and other creative ways to get to a team that is mutually acceptable."

However, Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe denied that scratching Hamilton is an attempt to pressure him into waiving his no-movement clause.

"I don't care about any of that stuff," Keefe said, according to Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com. I'm putting a lineup together. I like what (Simon Nemec) brings. I think we need more of what Kovy brings at this point in time."

Keefe added he wants to give his team a different look on the blue line, noting, "Dougie is the odd man out," per team reporter Amanda Stein.

Hamilton, who's making $9 million per campaign through 2027-28, has just 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 40 games this season for the underperforming Devils. The 32-year-old signed a seven-year, $63-million contract with New Jersey in July 2021.