According to Moneypuck, the New Jersey Devils have just a 1.7% chance to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. All attention is now turned to today’s 3:00 PM EST Trade Deadline, where they’ll have a chance to start taking steps to make sure these crises don’t continue into next season.
Related: Devils’ Prospect Stock Market: Yegorov, Fondrk & More
In this edition of Devils News & Rumors, we discuss Simon Nemec’s agent change, Dougie Hamilton, and an upcoming third jersey.
Simon Nemec Changes Agent
Yesterday, Elliotte Friedman reported that Simon Nemec switched his agent. Per PuckPedia, he has moved from Creative Artists Agency’s (CAA) JP Barry to Craig Oster of Newport.
As Friedman also noted, that’s “always a bad sign for an incumbent. That’s one reason he’s out [on the trade market].” Generally, when a player switches agents, it’s because they’re searching for a change of scenery. Not always, but given the timeline, it wouldn’t be super surprising.
Nemec becomes a restricted free agent after this season and is likely due a pretty hefty extension given his status as a #2 overall pick who has taken definite strides this season. Over a full season, he’s on pace for ~15 goals and 36 points. Not too shabby for a 22-year-old playing on the backend.
What is Dougie Hamilton’s Value!?
The Devils have a very crucial decision to make on whether to keep or trade 32-year-old defenseman Dougie Hamilton. He should have definite value to some contenders as an offensive defenseman with 16 points in his last 18 games.
With another two seasons after this one, it’s not yet clear how many contenders would be willing to have his $9 million cap hit aboard for 2026 through 2028. And it’s also unclear what he’ll fetch exactly as a result.
Then again, 32-year-old Colton Parayko has produced ~45% less offense than Hamilton and isn’t a free agent until 2030 at $6.5 million AAV — yet the Buffalo Sabres were willing to give up a first-round pick and a prospect they just recently drafted at #9 overall (Radim Mrtka).
On the other hand, getting rid of Hamilton could potentially harm the Devils offensively — a team that already struggles to find twine at 5v5 more than any other NHL team. Per Natural Stat Trick, with Hamilton on the ice this season at 5v5, the Devils lead in scoring chances (478-421) and high danger (HD) chances (205-167).
His 55.11% HD chance share leads the whole team, just ahead of Jack Hughes (53.91%). It should be very interesting to see how the Hamilton situation unfolds as the day goes on.
Devils’ Prez Excited for Team’s Third Jersey
It’s been public news for a few months that the Devils will be retiring their “Jersey jersey” and getting a new one next season. While fans have mocked up their own ideas, Devils’ President Jake Reynolds briefly spoke about the jersey at a recent team event:
“The new jersey is going to be exciting,” said Reynolds. “That’s one piece I will tell you. Obviously, the Jersey jersey has been a huge piece of our identity for the last several years, to be able to kind of hang that up for the time being and be able to introduce something that we think our fanbase will be really excited about, we’re pretty pumped up about it. But you got to leave some elements for surprise.”
What will it be!? Let us know your best jersey ideas in the comments.
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