The Devils have a new No. 1 defenseman.
Dougie Hamilton, one of the best available players this offseason, signed with the Devils as the free-agent market opened on Wednesday, inking a seven-years, $63 million deal.
The Post’s Larry Brooks reported the Devils recruited Hamilton — and other free agents — by sending out an email to agents highlighting the perks of playing in New Jersey with the Devils. It seemingly worked, as landing Hamilton is one of the biggest splashes of the offseason so far.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dougie and his family to the New Jersey Devils organization,” GM Tom Fitzgerald said in a statement. “As a player and person, he has consistently shown a commitment to excellence and will play a leading role in our franchise’s return to an elite level in the League. We believe that the magnitude of his contributions on the ice will be equal to his impact on our culture as we continue to position ourselves for long-term success. I am proud of the work our entire staff did to promote the amazing attributes of this organization and to bring aboard one of the most sought-after free agents this year.”
Hamilton is widely considered to be one of the top defensemen in the league and will immediately be challenged with leading the Devils’ defense. Considering P.K. Subban has one season remaining on the eight-year, $72 million deal he signed with the Canadiens in August 2014, the Devils were in need of another veteran defenseman.
In the last three seasons with the Hurricanes, Hamilton became an integral part of their blue line. Alongside defensive partner Jaccob Slavin, Hamilton posted 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists) in 55 games last season. In 607 career NHL games with the Bruins, Flames and Hurricanes, the 6-foot-6 righty has accumulated 106 goals and 235 assists with a plus-72 rating.
In addition to Hamilton, the Devils signed goalie Jonathan Bernier to a two-year, $8.25 million contract with an average annual value of $4.125 million. After locking up Mackenzie Blackwood, who has been the team’s No. 1 goalie, to a three-year deal last December, the Devils now have their goaltending tandem set.
“Bringing in Jonathan provides us with a solid and experienced veteran presence in net,” Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said in a statement. “In consultation with our goaltending development department, we believe that this gives us the stability we have been looking for and can help support and push Mackenzie moving forward. He’s going to be a great influence on our young team and is excited to join the group.”
Bernier, who finished with a 9-11-1 record last season in Detroit, said Devils goaltending legend and current executive vice president of hockey operations Martin Brodeur played “a big part” in the 32-year-old’s decision to sign in New Jersey.
“Marty kind of mentioned that they want a guy that can help [Blackwood] blow up and get pushed,” Bernier said. “I think that’s obviously why they signed [Corey] Crawford last year. It didn’t work out for them, but I think that’s why they were in the market for another guy like me.”
The Devils also traded defenseman Will Butcher and a 2022 fifth-round pick to the Sabres in exchange for future considerations.
Kyle Palmieri is expected to sign a long-term deal to remain with the Islanders, according to Sportsnet.
Having played a major role in the team’s second straight run to the Stanley Cup semifinal last season, chipping in seven goals and two assists, Palmieri is a no-brainer signing for Lamoriello. And after Jordan Eberle was taken in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft, the Islanders have a vacancy on the right wing of their top line.
The Isles are also signing Zach Parise, per multiple reports, after weeks of rumblings of a connection between the two sides. Parise, who was bought out of the remaining four years of his deal with the Wild, would reunite with Lou Lamoriello after the former Devils GM drafted him 17th overall in 2003.