There’s an old saying in the NHL: you can never have too much defense. In today’s cap-driven league, that’s often amended to “you can never have too much cost-effective defense.” So what happens when you have two elite, $9 million puck-moving defensemen like the New Jersey Devils do with Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes?
The rumor mill instantly ignited. With Hughes locked in, and both players being natural power-play quarterbacks, the assumption from rivals—as Pierre LeBrun noted—is that something has to give. After all, there’s only one PP1. This is where the expert-level insight comes in.
Can Two $9M Defensemen Coexist on the Devils’ Power Play?
General Manager Tom Fitzgerald’s comments are the key. He explicitly stated the New Jersey Devils run a power play based on the opposing team’s penalty kill. This isn’t just a throwaway line; it’s a modern strategic philosophy. It means the Devils don’t have a power play; they have multiple power-play looks.
Hamilton and Hughes are not redundant. Hamilton is a high-volume shooter with a cannon from the point, a right-hand shot who opens up one-timer lanes. Hughes is a dynamic skater, an elite transition player who creates lanes with his feet and deception, a left-hand shot. A modern coach doesn’t see a “problem”; they see a “toolbox.” Against an aggressive PK, you might use Hughes’ skating to break pressure. Against a passive box, you might use Hamilton to hammer pucks from the top. They can even be deployed together in a five-forward-style “1-3-1” or “drop” setup, creating matchup nightmares.
What’s the Real Takeaway for Devils Fans?
The reality is, Fitzgerald is right. Having two $9 million defensemen isn’t a problem when the NHL salary cap is rising and your team is a contender. It’s a luxury. The New Jersey Devils are winning. They’re “riding high,” and you don’t trade cornerstone pieces like Dougie Hamilton when you’re at the top of the standings. His 10-team no-trade list gives him significant control, but this isn’t a bridge the team is even approaching.
The only way Hamilton’s name legitimately resurfaces is if the Devils’ season completely implodes. If they tumble down the standings, Fitzgerald might be forced to re-evaluate all his long-term assets. But right now? That’s a “what if” scenario. Teams are watching, as they should be. But they’ll likely be watching Dougie Hamilton quarterback one of the league’s most versatile power plays, not seeing him in their own jersey anytime soon.
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