Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 11, 2026
Is Dougie Hamilton on the trade block? What defensemen could the Maple Leafs pursue? What’s the latest on the Canucks? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
DOUGIE HAMILTON’S DAYS WITH THE DEVILS APPEAR NUMBERED
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reported Saturday afternoon that Dougie Hamilton appears willing to work with the New Jersey Devils to find a suitable trade partner after being listed as a healthy scratch for Sunday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.
Hamilton’s agent, J.P. Barry, told LeBrun that he considered the decision to scratch his client a calculated one. He said the 32-year-old defenseman is willing to be flexible with his 10-team trade list. Barry indicated that the Devils had attempted to move Hamilton last summer.
New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (NHL Images).
In an interview with LeBrun, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said the decision to scratch Hamilton was made because their blueline is finally healthy, and they wanted to give young defenseman Simon Nemec some playing time after returning from an injury. Another reason is the return of defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic from a knee injury.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: James Nichols noted that Hamilton is signed through 2027-28 with an average annual value of $9 million. However, his performance has been disappointing this season, with 10 points in 40 games.
Nichols also noted that there have been previous reports suggesting Hamilton rejected several attempts to trade him earlier this season.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sheng Peng referenced Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who reported that the Sharks attempted to acquire Hamilton last summer, but the blueliner blocked that deal.
SPORTSNET: Friedman said there are “hard feelings” between Devils management and Hamilton. He feels he’s being singled out for non-performance reasons. Hamilton has no intention of terminating his contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton’s AAV, his injury history, and the recent drop in his production could concern some teams, but he has only missed four games this season before Sunday’s game against the Jets. He’s also a right-shot defenseman with superb puck-moving abilities, and there will be clubs willing to gamble on him returning to form with a more stable roster.
WHICH DEFENSEMEN COULD THE MAPLE LEAFS TARGET?
TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving could be forced to shop for a right-shot defenseman if Chris Tanev’s groin injury turns out to be season-ending.
Koshan mentioned Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues, and former Leaf Luke Schenn of the Winnipeg Jets as possible trade options. Other possibilities include Tyler Myers of the Vancouver Canucks, Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks, and Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks.
The cost of acquiring any of them could be expensive for the Maple Leafs. They don’t have much trade capital apart from promising forward Easton Cowan and prospect defenseman Ben Danford. Koshan suggested that they may have already made their most significant acquisition when they plucked Troy Stecher off waivers in November.
THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel looked at what it could cost the Maple Leafs to acquire Andersson, Faulk, or Schenn.
He considered Andersson out of the Maple Leafs’ price range, and doesn’t think taking on the 34-year-old Faulk’s contract ($6.5 million through 2026-27) to be a good idea. Schenn would be the most affordable in terms of contract ($2.75 million for this season), as well as the potential cost of the return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have already sacrificed way too much of their future in deals that didn’t bring them any closer to ending their long Stanley Cup drought. It would be insane to part with what few significant assets they have left for players who won’t significantly improve their odds of winning the Cup.
THE LATEST CANUCKS SPECULATION (NON-KIEFER SHERWOOD EDITION)
OILERS NATION: Zach Laing cited CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal’s appearance on Friday’s episode of Sportsnet’s Halford & Brough In The Morning, where he talked about the difficulty the Vancouver Canucks could face if they attempt to trade Evander Kane.
Moving Kane could be tough, with one team saying, “Have fun moving him.” The 34-year-old winger’s age, AAV ($5.125 million), 16-team approved trade list, injuries, and reduced production adversely affect his trade value.
Dhaliwal said two sources told him the Canucks tried trading Kane back to the Edmonton Oilers. However, his Edmonton source indicated that ship had sailed.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It seems like Kane’s season, and perhaps his NHL career, will end in Vancouver. Too many factors make it difficult to move him now.
THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma recently wondered if Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers might consider waiving his no-movement clause to go to a contender before the March 6 trade deadline.
Myers turns 36 in February and has a year remaining on his contract with an affordable cap hit of $3 million. Kuzma believes the 6’8” blueliner would benefit a team needing second or third-pairing experience.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Myers and his family love Vancouver, which is why he’s stuck with the Canucks for six seasons. However, he’s nearing the end of his playing days, and his chances of winning the Stanley Cup are narrowing.
Hamilton gave NJ a couple of good seasons but this season he’s been playing like he doesnt care and frankly he probably doesnt.
Hamilton always seems to wear out his welcome wherever he goes, so now NJ bears his wrath.
Wonder what the market would be for a RHD that can play on the PP? Toronto traded Minten and a first round pick to Boston for Carlo,a RHD although with nothing close to the offensive capabilities of Hamilton.
Not much for a declining 32 year old with this year plus 2 more at $9M AAV.
Sr you seem to repeat this any chance you get which is funny. You leave out the fact that the Bruins are paying for Carlo to play on the Leafs with the retention in salary. Plus Carlo is exactly what the Leafs needed and still needs, a guy who can shutdown the opposition and play D…something the Leafs lack.
So basically, you like Miten and should because he’s a good middle six player and will for years to come. The price was high to acquire Carlo because of his value. It is interesting that Carlo had an infected metal rod in his ankle which clearly affected his mobility so yeah, I guess the Bruins traded some damaged goods to a desperate team who, if you recall, were prime to make a big push in the postseason after another very successful season – this time by “playing the right way 🙄. Though costly, and no one should argue otherwise, it was the right move at the time and good to have him otherwise they wouldnt have anything decent in their backend on the right side with Tanev indefinitely out.
I liked Minten and believe you need guys like him on your team and hope he does well.
Is i my imagination or could Hamilton be a good replacement for Fox? A good puck moving defenseman that the Rangers do not have without Fox. I don’t know how they would pull it off, but I could not imagine that Hamilton would object even if the Rangers were on his no-trade
Zero chance Rangers have interest in Hamilton.
That seems like a total panic move that really doesn’t make sense in the long term.
An expensive, long term bandaid.
Agree Slick62 and CaptainObvious. And I’m glad he’s been no way linked to Ottawa … likely because they’ht at the top of his no-go list. And if so, thank you Dougie!
“… they’re right at the top …”
in looking at other teams, it seems like Nashville would be a nice fit for Hamilton, they could use a bomb from the point to go with Josi. Preds seem to have turned things around since Stamkos got hot. Maybe a swap of Marchessault for Hamilton? NJ would probably need to retain some of DH’s salary
Kovacevic is still listed on ltir. Not sure devils have cap space to activate him if he’s ready. Do flyers need a RD? Myers brother plays for NBA sixers.
Devils were able to activate Kovasevic from LTIR because they are putting Noeson on LTIR, who is having knee surgery and most likely out for the season
Dadonov is also returning from IR today
Dougie
Is a cream puff making to much $$. And declining offense
I can see a trade if NJ eats a bunch of salary. Or takes an overpriced salary back Rumor is he blocked a trade to sharks. Which is dumb considering they are on the rise
Hamilton (retain 2M) for Leddy or Liligren(NJ adds a pick for Lilly)
But maybe that ship has sailed and is well over the horizon.