Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Season riddled with injuries
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Hamilton was dealing with several lingering injuries throughout the 2021-22 season, including a broken toe, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Hamilton had seven goals and 20 points through his first 29 games this season before breaking his jaw and missing 17 contests. It was around that time that he broke a toe and was clearly not the same for the rest of the year; he tallied just 10 points in 32 games once he returned. It was the first time since the 2013-14 campaign that Hamilton failed to reach the double-digit mark in goals. With a whole offseason to get healthy, fantasy managers should be optimistic heading into the 2022-23 season barring any setbacks.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Doles out assist in loss
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Hamilton pitched in an assist Thursday, albeit in a 5-2 loss to the Sabres.
Despite lending a helping hand on a Jesper Boqvist tally, Hamilton ended up with a minus-3 rating for the night. The 28-year-old defenseman procured a seven-year contract that nets him a cool $9 million in AAV, but he'll need to consistently do his part to help turn this franchise around. New Jersey is in danger of finishing in the basement of the Metropolitan Division this season.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Pots OT winner Sunday
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Hamilton scored the overtime winner in Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Blues.
He took a backhand pass from Pavel Zacha in the St. Louis slot, cruised to the left of Ville Husso and flicked the puck into the top corner to secure the win for the Devils. Hamilton has rounded into form quickly after his long layoff due to a broken jaw, posting two goals and four points over the last five games.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Lights lamp Monday
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Hamilton scored a goal on four shots, went plus-4 and added two hits in Monday's 7-2 win over the Canucks.
This was Hamilton's first goal and second point in three games since he returned from a broken jaw. The defenseman's tally was more like window dressing in the lopsided win. He's at eight goals, 22 points, 120 shots on net, 51 blocked shots, 47 hits and a minus-3 rating in 33 appearances in his first year with the Devils.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Activated from IR
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Hamilton (jaw) was activated from injured reserve Thursday, per the NHL's media site, and will play Thursday in Pittsburgh.
News broke earlier in the week that Hamilton would return following a nearly six-week absence, and his formal activation confirms that. Hamilton will look to bolster his line of seven goals, 20 points and 108 shots in 30 games this season.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Ready to rock
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Hamilton (jaw) will return to the lineup Thursday versus the Penguins, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Hamilton will need to officially be activated off injured reserve before rejoining the lineup, but his nearly six-week absence is set to come to an end. Hamilton should return to a featured role skating on the top pairing and first power-play unit versus the Penguins.
Hamilton (jaw) is hoping to suit up in Thursday's matchup with the Penguins, telling reporters, "It's been going good so far, so I think I'm ready to play," Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Hamilton took part in power-play drills at Tuesday's practice session, a good indication he'll be back in the lineup versus Pittsburgh. If the offensively gifted defenseman does play, it would mark the end of his 17-game absence due to his jaw injury. Whenever Hamilton is cleared to play, he figures to offer solid top-half fantasy value.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Ruled out Sunday
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Hamilton (jaw) will not participate in Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, per Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.
Hamilton's next opportunity to return will be Tuesday versus Tampa Bay. He has missed the last 15 games while dealing with a jaw injury and is expected to miss a 16th. The 28-year-old has averaged 19:57 of ice time -- 2:32 during the power play -- and recorded five points over his last 10 appearances.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Practices Saturday
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Hamilton (jaw) was a full participant in practice Saturday, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Hamilton has missed the last 15 games while dealing with a jaw injury. He has racked up 20 points over 30 games this season. The 28-year-old could potentially return to play as soon as Sunday's tilt against Pittsburgh.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Out next three games
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Hamilton (jaw) skated on his own prior to Sunday's practice but didn't participate in the actual practice, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports. He isn't cleared for contact and will not play the next three games.
Without any practice time under his belt, Hamilton won't be available for the next three games -- road contests in Ottawa, Montreal and St. Louis. His next chance to suit up after that point will come when the Devils return home to host Pittsburgh on Feb. 13, though he'll obviously need to be cleared for contact prior to that.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Won't play Monday
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Hamilton (jaw) was still wearing a non-contact jersey for Monday's game-day skate and won't be an option versus the Leafs, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Given the Devils are heading into a back-to-back with another matchup versus Toronto on Tuesday, fantasy players probably shouldn't be expecting Hamilton to suit up in the contest either. With the All-Star break around the corner, keeping Hamilton off the ice until at least Feb. 7 against Ottawa should give him the time to heal up. Once cleared to play, the 28-year-old defenseman should be a lock for both the top pairing and No. 1 power-play units and figures to offer top-end fantasy value in those roles.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Will make trip
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Hamilton (jaw) practiced with the team Wednesday in a non-contact jersey and will join his teammates for a three-game road trip, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Considering Hamilton hasn't been cleared for contact, it seems unlikely he will be ready in time to face the Lightning on Thursday, though he hasn't been officially ruled out. Still, the fact that the Toronto native is making the trip would seem to indicate the Devils anticipate him being available before the NHL All-Star break.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Resumes skating
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Hamilton (jaw/COVID-19 protocols) resumed skating with a skills coach Monday and is considered week-to-week, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports.
Hamilton is still recovering from the surgery he underwent to repair his broken jaw in early January, and at this point it's probably safe to assume he'll be sidelined until early February at a minimum. Once cleared to play, Hamilton, who's racked up 20 points through 30 contests this season, will return to a top-four role and a spot on New Jersey's No. 1 power-play unit.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Enters virus protocols
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The Devils placed Hamilton (jaw) in COVID-19 protocols Friday, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Hamilton was already expected to miss more time as he recovers from jaw surgery, so the COVID-19 infection is unlikely to delay his return. The defenseman had seven goals and 13 assists in 30 games before getting injured and should return to being New Jersey's top right defenseman once healthy.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Set to undergo jaw surgery
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Hamilton will undergo surgery on his broken jaw Wednesday and has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 2.
The Devils have yet to establish an expected timetable for Hamilton's return, so for now, he can be considered out indefinitely. With Hamilton presumably facing an extended absence, look for P.K. Subban to take on an expanded power-play role for the foreseeable future.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Undergoing further evaluation
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Hamilton (face) has returned to New Jersey to be further evaluated by the team's medical staff and won't play against Boston on Tuesday.
Hamilton was hit in the face with a puck during the first period of Saturday's matchup with the Capitals and could be in danger of missing significant time as a result. For at least Tuesday's tilt, Damon Severson figures to move up to the No. 1 power-play unit while Christian Jaros will make just his fourth appearance of the season.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: injured Sunday
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Hamilton (undisclosed) left Sunday's game against Washington and will not return, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Hamilton saw just 2:40 of ice time in Sunday's tilt before exiting. An update on his status should be available before Tuesday's tilt with Boston. The 28-year-old blueliner has 20 points through 29 games in his first seasons as a Devil.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Two helpers in Friday's win
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Hamilton collected two assists, one on the power play, in Friday's 6-5 overtime win over the Oilers.
The veteran blueliner has had a couple slow stretches in his first season with the Devils, but Hamilton now has five points (one goal, four helpers) in the last five games. On the season, the 28-year-old has racked up seven goals and 20 points through 29 contests.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Nabs power-play helper
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Hamilton notched a power-play assist, four shots on goal and a minus-2 rating in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Penguins.
Hamilton set up Nathan Bastian's marker in the third period. The 28-year-old Hamilton has five assists through 10 games in December, a rather cool stretch from one of the league's most talented defensemen. He's at 17 points (five on the power play), 99 shots on net, 43 blocked shots, 36 hits and a minus-9 rating in 27 outings overall.
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Devils' Dougie Hamilton: Sets up both tallies in loss
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Hamilton registered two assists and four shots on net in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Wild.
Hamilton set up goals by Ryan Graves and Tomas Tatar in the second period, but that was it for the Devils' offense. The 28-year-old Hamilton is up to six tallies, eight helpers, 72 shots on net and a plus-4 rating in 18 contests this year, with two multi-point outings in his last three games. The star defenseman has added 34 blocked shots and 27 hits to provide strong all-around production in fantasy.
