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this New Jersey Devils Defense was clearly not a strong suit last season. For a team known for its defense, the roster and personnel didn’t play to their best on most nights. Part of that was a regression from last season. Part of that was players having to play beyond their capabilities. And, of course, part of that was injuries.
The word “injury” of course brings us to Dougie Hamilton. A jewel on the 2021 free agent market, Hamilton played in just 20 games for the Devils in the 2023-24 season before being forced to rest due to a torn pectoral muscle. While Hamilton had some struggles on defense before the injury, the rest of the team wasn’t much better, at least Dougie still scored 16 points when he was on the court. Hamilton, who has been out since November, will return to the Devils and hopes to have a deep and meaningful season in 2024-25. They have also made some upgrades to help them do just that.
Even if the roster looks improved on paper, the Devils still need Hamilton to bounce back. Having more depth, more defensive strength, more grit and more experienced young players is great, but at least for now, it’s all just on paper. All of these aspects have to come together when the games start; players need to live up to their reputations and skills. That includes Hamilton.
While Doug is better known for his offense than his defense, he is no slouch on the offensive end of the floor. His performance in 2022-23 is a big factor in the Devils’ performance, and while he may not reach 74 points again (but we all hope it happens), he does need to return to a high level of play on both ends of the floor. The Devils saw Simon Nemec become an NHL regular at age 19/20 and Brett Pace join as a free agent, but that doesn’t mean Doug can turn into a prop and be relegated to the third pair. If the Devils’ defense is to become a pillar of strength again, all three right-side players need to play at their best and challenge each other for minutes.
The concern is whether Hamilton will be able to return to his usual level after major surgery. Speculation has already begun that his shot won’t be as quick as it once was, or that he’s unwilling to get physical for fear of getting injured again. While there may be some adjustments to make, and some rustiness to work off between training camp, preseason, and early games, I don’t think it’s time to give up on Doug being a great NHL player. He’s still able to skate like he did before his injury, and he can still play in the right spots on both ends. Additionally, Hamilton’s wrist shot is pretty good (link below for those who forgot), so even if his shot isn’t as strong, he’s not going to become obsolete.
Again, we will have a better idea of what Doug Hamilton is like following his injury once games begin (even if it’s preseason). Even without any hockey games to judge him by, I don’t think Hamilton is going to be useless due to his injury. However, he does need to return strong to help lead the new Devils defense. His return should help relieve some of the burden on the rest of the defense and should aid the team’s overall efforts to get back into the playoffs this season.
What are your thoughts on Doug Hamilton’s impending return? Do you think he needs to get back to his pre-injury level? Do you think he no longer needs to be as impactful as he once was because the roster seems to be stronger? Are you concerned that his game will be permanently affected by his pectoral injury? Please leave any comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!
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