The Philadelphia Flyers are grappling with a poor power play and may look to acquire New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who was recently benched. Hamilton's agent has indicated flexibility for a trade amid the Devils' business decisions. This move could bolster the Flyers' man advantage as they sit ninth in the standings.
The Philadelphia Flyers continue to struggle with one of the NHL's worst power plays, scoring just 18 goals in 42 games for a 15% conversion rate that ranks 31st and 30th league-wide, respectively. This inefficiency stems partly from a lack of a reliable quarterback on the man advantage, with players like Travis Sanheim, Cam York, Egor Zamula, Jamie Drysdale, and Rasmus Ristolainen rotating through the role with mixed results. With no promising defense prospects in the system, general manager Danny Brière may turn to the trade market for solutions.
On Saturday, the New Jersey Devils benched star defenseman Dougie Hamilton, 32, in favor of the returning Johnathan Kovacevic, who is making his season debut after knee surgery recovery. Hamilton has slipped behind Kovacevic, Brett Pesce, and Simon Nemec in the lineup. His agent, J.P. Barry, responded to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, stating that the decision is driven by business rather than performance. Barry added that he and Hamilton are open to facilitating a trade beyond the player's 10-team no-trade list.
Hamilton carries a $9 million cap hit for the remaining three seasons of his contract, limiting potential destinations. It remains unclear if the Flyers are on his trade list, but Philadelphia's position makes them a logical suitor. Currently ninth in the NHL standings, the Flyers benefit from Rasmus Ristolainen's return from injury, strong play from Trevor Zegras and Dan Vladar, and expected scoring uptick from Matvei Michkov.
At 6-foot-6, Hamilton has recorded 28 power-play points in his last 124 games, despite losing his top role to teammate Luke Hughes. Just two injury-affected seasons ago, he posted a career-high 22 goals, 74 points, and 28 power-play points in 82 games. The Flyers, with $13.6 million in cap space, could deploy him primarily on the power play alongside Ristolainen, York, and Sanheim at even strength. A move from Newark to Philadelphia would be geographically convenient, offering Hamilton a fresh start on a competitive, young roster while addressing the Devils' financial constraints.