Devils’ Dougie Hamilton to miss game against Jets with lower-body injury

New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton will be held out of the club’s Friday night game against the Winnipeg Jets due to a lower-body injury, according to NHL.com’s Mike Morreale. 

The 31-year-old blueliner sustained an injury in New Jersey’s 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday after getting tangled up with Stars forward Mason Marchment below the Dallas goal line early in the first period. 

He left the ice and went to the locker room on his own but did not return to the game and now joins a list of key Devils that will miss games due to injury as the club chases the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Hailing from Toronto, Hamilton leads the Devils’ defensemen in all offensive categories, with nine goals and 40 points, 25 of which came at even strength. As of Friday, he does not have a timeline for a return, according to his head coach, Sheldon Keefe. 

In 834 career NHL games, Hamilton has 151 goals and 501 points, hitting a career-high 74 points in 2022-23. 

Another defenseman, Jonas Siegenthaler, has also been sidelined since Feb. 4 and was given no return timeline from Keefe either. 

The news of his lower-body injury and Friday absence comes just days after the club announced that center Jack Hughes won’t return this season, having had successful shoulder surgery after colliding with the boards, and Jack Eichel in a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. 

With ample injuries to key players, the Devils added defenseman Brian Dumoulin on Thursday, sending a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and forward prospect Herman Traff to the Anaheim Ducks. 

Heading into their clash with the Jets, the Devils sit third in the Metropolitan Division, four points up on the Columbus Blue Jackets, who they welcome to the Prudential Center on March 11.