The New Jersey Devils fended off some major competition from the likes of the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Columbus, in particular, gave New Jersey a run for its money. The Blue Jackets missed the postseason by two points.
Both of these teams are looking to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026. And there is a realistic path for each of them to do so. The Devils, for instance, have an extremely talented team. Internal improvement from Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec could put them near the top of the Metropolitan Division.
However, Columbus could also see internal improvement. In fact, a lot of their young stars could truly breakout in 2025-26. If the likes of Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson take another step, this could be a frightening team this upcoming season.
All this said, these teams could also come together on a trade. Bleacher Report writer Adam Getz believes the Blue Jackets are a trade fit for veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton.
“Not only would Hamilton help fix (the defense), but Columbus still has as much salary cap space as any team in the league. The Blue Jackets entered this offseason with big expectations for fixing their roster, and so far have swung and missed. They should take another swing,” Getz wrote of the possibility.
Blue Jackets Have Yet to Swing For Fences
Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesThe Columbus Blue Jackets are an intriguing trade fit for defenseman Dougie Hamilton.
Columbus came close to their first playoff appearance since the 2020 COVID-19 bubble postseason. General manager Don Waddell expressed a willingness to swing for the fences this summer to add talent to the roster. At this time, it hasn’t happened.
The Blue Jackets tried to acquire Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. In fact, they were a finalist for the 25-year-old rearguard. However, Dobson went to the Montreal Canadiens at the 2025 NHL Draft in exchange for Emil Heineman and two first-round picks.
Columbus could add to its roster in a variety of ways. As Getz mentioned, though, adding on the backend makes sense. The overall unit wasn’t extremely impressive outside of Norris Trophy finalist Zach Werenski in 2025-26. Adding Hamilton would give them much-needed star power on the blueline alongside Werenski.
Devils’ Dougie Hamilton Could Be Cap Casualty
A team like New Jersey normally wouldn’t want to trade someone of Hamilton’s caliber. The veteran defenseman scored nine goals and 40 points this past season. And he has scored 40+ points eight times in his long NHL career.
However, the Devils need to re-sign Luke Hughes, one of the best defensive prospects in hockey. He is currently a restricted free agent who is due for a large raise. New Jersey only has $6.13 million available, according to PuckPedia, which likely won’t be enough.
As a result, a significant salary needs to be moved out. Hamilton is certainly an effective offensive presence when healthy. In saying this, he has struggled with injury recently. He missed 18 games in 2024-25, and he missed 62 games in 2023-24.
Still, Hamilton has more trade value than some other potential Devils trade candidates. His injury history complicates things. But teams like the Blue Jackets should certainly be interested in his services if he’s made available.
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