NHL 2021 Free Agency Profile: Dougie Hamilton

Is there any type of player in the league more sought after than a bonafide No. 1 right-shot defenceman? Teams have paid exorbitant sums for these guys in trades and in free agency, whether it's Shea Weber, P.K. Subban, Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns or Alex Pietrangelo -- the list goes on. 

Anchoring your blue line to one of these rare talents who can put up elite results in big, difficult minutes, is said to be a crucial piece of a championship team. But rarely can you acquire one without emptying your cupboard of prospects and picks.

In this off-season, one such player appears to be available: Dougie Hamilton. The 28-year-old Carolina Hurricanes defenceman is coming off his most decorated season yet where he was a Second Team All-Star and finished fourth in Norris voting as his team won the East Division. He's received Norris votes in each of his past five campaigns and, especially among more analytically-minded commentators, has steadily gained a reputation as one of the very best blueliners in the league.