Dougie Hamilton has flipped the script in 2026
Improved play, more favorable usage, and a little bit of puck luck have fueled Hamilton’s turnaround.
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Dougie Hamilton was one of the New Jersey Devils’ biggest disappointments for the first chunk of the season.
He recorded just eight points over the first three months of the campaign, with only one coming in November or December.
His production was so non-existent that the Devils actually made Hamilton a healthy scratch.
Dougie has been a completely different player since the calendar flipped. He has piled up 13 points over 16 games in 2026, putting him one behind Jack Hughes for the team lead.
Hamilton ranks 17th among all defensemen in that span, outscoring Cale Makar, Josh Morrissey, Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley, and Shea Theodore.
He also sits 3rd among blueliners in shots on target, only outpaced by Evan Bouchard and Roman Josi.
The production hasn’t been empty-calorie by any stretch. Hamilton has also helped the Devils tilt the ice significantly during his minutes.
They’ve controlled 56.51% of the shot attempts with Hamilton on the ice. That shot share is good for 12th among defensemen with 200+ minutes played.
It’s not a quantity over quality approach, either. Hamilton’s xG share of 55.19% directly aligns with his CF%. There are plenty of chances to go with the attempts.
Hamilton also owns a +4 goal differential at 5v5 in 2026. That may not sound like anything special but it’s pretty damn good considering the Devils have been out-scored 43-24.
No defenseman on the roster has held a candle to Hamilton when it comes to goals.
Hamilton has gone from producing zero offense and sitting in the seats to performing like the top-pairing defenseman he’s paid to be in the blink of an eye.
So, what changed?
