New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald told the Krackin’ Canuckleheads podcast that defenseman Dougie Hamilton’s regular season is over, and the team isn’t expecting to get him back until the second round of the playoffs. Fitzgerald added that he would have to double-check his math on that, but the team had no plans for him to return in the regular season. Fitzgerald spoke in a press conference after the NHL Trade Deadline last week and said that the 31-year-old would miss, “an extended period of time,” after he suffered a lower body injury back on March 4th against the Dallas Stars. With Fitzgerald’s comments yesterday, it does appear that the team has some clarity on just how much time his recovery will take.
Hamilton is dealing with an undisclosed injury that looks to be a leg injury given the nature in which he left the ice against the Stars. Hamilton collided with Stars forward Mason Marchment and limped his way back to the bench. He remained on New Jersey’s bench for a bit, but eventually headed back to the locker room and did not return.
It’s the second year in a row that Hamilton will miss an extended length of time after he missed most of last season due to injury. Hamilton played just 20 games a season ago and was in the midst of a bounce back year, registering nine goals and 31 assists in 63 games this season, while playing nearly 20 minutes per game.
New Jersey is going through it right now when it comes to injuries. The team has already lost forward Jack Hughes as well as defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler for the rest of the regular season. It pales in comparison to last year’s injury bug, but it is more devastating given that New Jersey was one of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference.
The team did make some additions at the Trade Deadline, in hopes of patching the holes opened up by injury, acquiring forward Cody Glass as well as defenseman Brian Dumoulin. However, they did not come close to replacing the offense lost with Hamilton and Hughes now on the shelf.
Want Freddie Anderson to go with Pesce and Hamilton’s medical charts? See you in the first round of the playoffs!
Gonna be an ugly series… or maybe epic? Beauty of hockey lol
The Devils season has really gone to heck of late.
;)
Since December really. If not for the hot start we’d be in the poo. The bottom 6 have been non-existent. Sadly, they the ones who have been ok since Xmas are now injured. This season is looking pretty grim. On the bright side, only Washington and Florida look half decent in the East so you never know your luck if you can make the big dance.
What happened to hockey players being tough snd playing through injuries??? Seems like they’ve been going down left and right the last month.
You seem new to hockey. Players still play through injuries. However, some injuries keep players off the ice for a bit. You will learn this if you pay attention.
these injuries are piling up! hughes, now dougie. this looked like a special yr for NJ wtf happened
and why’d they trade 2nd rd pick for Brian Dumoulin. thats alot for just 1-2 months
You are literally commenting on the article dedicated to the reason why they traded for Dumoulin.
Hey, new guy,, at certain points a team has no leverage and must pay a premium for a guy to fill a spot on a roster.