Dougie Hamilton, defenseman for the New Jersey Devils, has been with the organization since July of 2021, when he was signed after entering free agency. After three seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, Hamilton signed a 63-million-dollar contract over seven years, confirming his time to be spent with the Devils. Since then, #7 has been a key component to the Devils success both offensively and defensively. Despite his success, early in the 2023 season, Hamilton suffered a torn pectoral muscle, requiring major surgery, and leaving him unable to play for the rest of the 23-24 regular and playoff season. Despite this, Dougie is returning better and stronger, truly helping bring this team back together.
Prior to his injury, in the 22-23 regular season Dougie was the Devils’ go-to guy, often considered the top defenseman for the team. In this same season, Hamilton accumulated 74 points in 82 games, with 22 goals and 52 assists. His final feat of the year was setting the team record for goals scored by a defenseman, just another way to prove his dominance on the ice as an offensive and defensive force (allaboutthejersey). After this, Hamilton came into the 23-24 season with confidence. But this, unfortunately, diminished after tragedy struck.
On November 28th of 2023, only approximately 20 games into the 23-24 season, Dougie was reportedly out for a torn pectoral muscle. What fans didn’t know was that Dougie would not make his return until the impending season, due to the major surgery he would need an abundance of recovery time for (Fox Sports). Jan. 25, 2024, Hamilton was placed on injured reserve, solidifying his long-term recovery post-surgery that would take place the rest of the season.
Awaiting Dougie’s return, fans wondered what his performance would consist of. Would he come back better than ever? Or would he need to warm back up into his game? This left Devils fans anxious and curious as for what was to come.
Taking the ice after his first reappearance in a pre-season game against the Islanders (Sept. 22, 24), fans were pleasantly surprised with his performance. Despite an abundance of saved shots on goal, Hamilton did not shy away physically and defensively all game. With a hit on Kyle MacLean of the Islanders (NHL.com), and various takeaways, he came back from his long injury as a man on a mission. This game was only the beginning of Dougie’s comeback season, as we watched more and more out of him.
As the season has progressed, Dougie has earned himself a total of 28 points, consisting of 5 goals, and 23 assists, and has been consistently delivering (NHL.com). Early in the season, many argued that Dougie needed “to return to a high level of play in both ends,” (allaboutthejersey) and that he did. It is extremely challenging to unintentionally step back from such a high level for an injury/surgery, and be expected to return just as good, but Hamilton did it with no sweat.
Being a little over halfway through the season, Hamilton along with the team have so much more to come, and even more to prove. What we know is that Dougie has come back strong and fiery, with over half of a season to persist. Will they go on a run for the cup? Or will April 16 mark the last game of their 24-25 season? One thing’s for sure; Dougie Hamilton is back.
