Over the weekend, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton exercised his no-movement protection over the summer to block a trade that would have sent him to the San Jose Sharks. At the time, the decision was understandable. San Jose was coming off consecutive seasons at the bottom of the standings and, despite an intriguing prospect pool, still appeared far removed from contention—hardly an appealing destination for a 32-year-old veteran with championship aspirations.

Fast forward a few months, and the landscape looks very different.

Hamilton’s relationship with the Devils now appears increasingly strained. He was recently made a healthy scratch, a move his agent described as a “business decision”—a phrase that rarely signals harmony between player and organization. With tensions mounting and a separation beginning to feel inevitable, it’s fair to wonder whether Hamilton is now second-guessing that veto.

Meanwhile, the Sharks have authored one of the season’s most surprising storylines. Midway through the year, they find themselves in a playoff position in the Western Conference, fueled largely by the immediate superstardom of rookie center Macklin Celebrini. What once appeared to be a long-term rebuild has accelerated rapidly, turning San Jose into a far more attractive situation—particularly for a defenseman who thrives alongside elite offensive talent.

From an on-ice perspective, Hamilton’s season in New Jersey has been underwhelming at first glance. He’s produced just 10 points in 40 games, a notable dip for a player known for driving offense from the blue line. However, his underlying metrics remain strong, and a change of scenery—especially to a Sharks roster that could offer him greater offensive responsibility—could help unlock a rebound.

The question now is whether San Jose still views Hamilton as a fit. After being turned down in the offseason, the Sharks pivoted to John Klingberg, who has rebounded nicely following a slow start. With Klingberg settling into the lineup, the urgency to pursue Hamilton may have diminished, particularly given the remaining term and cap hit attached to his contract.

Still, the case for revisiting the idea is compelling. San Jose is well positioned to absorb the final two years of Hamilton’s deal after this season, especially with a wave of entry-level contracts moving through the system. His salary would also help the organization remain comfortably above the cap floor once Carey Price’s contract comes off the books. Just as importantly, the acquisition cost would likely be manageable. Under the circumstances, a package centered around an expiring defense contract—such as Nick Leddy or Timothy Liljegren—plus a Day 2 draft pick could be enough to get a deal done.

The Sharks have exceeded expectations and deserve to be rewarded for it. While general manager Mike Grier is unlikely to pursue flashy, short-term rentals, targeted, low-risk upgrades that reinforce belief in the group make sense. Adding a proven veteran like Hamilton—especially one who may now be wishing he had embraced the opportunity to play alongside Macklin Celebrini—could be exactly the kind of move that signals confidence in what this team is becoming.

Celebrini reached the 50-point plateau last month, becoming the third-fastest teenager in NHL history to do so by hitting the mark in just 34 games. Only Sidney Crosby, who needed 28 games, and Wayne Gretzky, who accomplished the feat twice in 32 games at ages 18 and 19, reached the milestone faster.

At just 19 years old, Celebrini has already established himself among the league’s elite. He ranks third in the NHL in scoring with 70 points, trailing only Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, while his 46 assists are second in the league behind McDavid. He’s also scored 24 goals this season, highlighting the completeness of his offensive game. To top it all off, he was recently named to Team Canada’s Olympic roster.

Hamilton may be regretting his decision—but for both sides, it may not be too late to revisit it.