Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton will have surgery Wednesday on a broken jaw, the team said Tuesday. New Jersey placed its big free-agent signing on injured reserve retroactive to Sunday, when he sustained the injury.
The team signed Hamilton to a seven-year, $63 million deal in July after he posted his seventh consecutive season of 39 points or more. The 28-year-old ranks third on the team with 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 30 games.
In addition, captain Nico Hischier will miss New Jersey's game Tuesday against the Bruins because of a lower-body injury. The team did not specify when he would return.
The Devils also ruled goaltender Jonathan Bernier out for the season after he underwent hip surgery Monday, and placed two players — forwards Yegor Sharangovich and Pavel Zacha — in COVID-19 protocols.
Bernier was also an offseason signing for New Jersey, agreeing to a two-year, $8.25 million contract after three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. He made eight starts this season, posting a record of 4-4, but last played on Dec. 3 and was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 10.
With 31 points in 33 games, the Devils are tied for sixth in the Metropolitan Division, ahead of only the Islanders.
(Photo: Rich Graessle / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
How will the Devils replace Hamilton?
Shayna Goldman, NHL staff writer: Replacing Hamilton is going to be a tall ask of the Devils’ defenders. Hamilton plays top minutes between even strength and power-play time. That role will now get distributed between Christian Jaros, who is set to slot back in tonight, plus righties P.K. Subban and Damon Severson (who already leads the team’s skaters in average ice time).
As for the man advantage, Hamilton quarterbacks the top unit that was finally starting to gain some traction these last few games. Now that role will likely go between Severson (who moved up after the defender left last game with injury) or Ty Smith, who generally plays on the second unit.
Has he lived up to the contract in his first season?
Goldman: Through 30 games, Hamilton’s tallied 20 points and he’s been a source of offense from the blue line. Seven of those points have come from the man advantage, where he’s the most frequent shooter of the team. At five-on-five, there’s a huge swing in offensive generation when he’s on the ice (2.97 expected goals for per 60) versus when he’s on the bench (sinking below league average to just 2.32 expected goals for per 60). That’s why the team leans on him when they need more scoring in a game.
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How can the Devils replace Hischier?
Goldman: The positive is that they still have two top-six caliber centers in Jack Hughes, who has been outstanding these last few games in particular, and rookie Dawson Mercer. Mercer’s already shown that he can step into the top six when asked, as he became a key contributor in October and November while Hughes was out.
The challenge, for the time being, is that they’re not just without Hischier up front, as Pavel Zacha and Yegor Sharangovich were both just placed on COVID-19 protocol. The positive is that winger Tomas Tatar will be back, plus Alexander Holtz and Nolan Foote from the taxi squad are available. But even with personnel replacements, the Devils are still going to miss Hischier who has been a positive influence on both ends of the ice, as well as on the scoresheet with 20 points through 28 games.