Overview
- After a one-game healthy scratch, Hamilton returned to the Devils lineup, with reporting indicating an eventual trade is expected but not imminent due to two years left at a $9 million AAV and a 10-team list.
- Carolina and Toronto surfaced as potential landing spots, though the Maple Leafs would likely require New Jersey to retain salary and include roster pieces given tight cap space and limited assets.
- New Jersey is also exploring a separate cost-cutting move for winger Ondrej Palat, whose $6 million cap hit makes any deal challenging.
- Vancouver is listening on most players, including Elias Pettersson, yet there has been no discussion about waiving his no-movement clause.
- Philadelphia is evaluating goalie options with interest in Alex Lyon at the right price, while Ottawa gauges buy-or-sell decisions over the next 7–10 games as it hunts a right-shot defenseman and a top-six forward, and Nashville signals it is unlikely to sell or buy.