NHL teams speak to Hamilton about Hurricanes but no resolution is imminent

Dougie Hamilton’s off-season watch is in full swing and the teams have wasted no time expressing their interest in the Carolina Hurricanes defender.

“It sounds like there’s been a lot of conversation between Hamilton’s agent JP Barry and teams across the league,” said Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston during Saturday’s headline segment Ice hockey night in Canada. “You get the feeling here that it won’t necessarily resolve itself quickly.

“He has the ability to come to terms with a team that could work out a sign and trade with Carolina. The league’s business is slowly starting up again. I don’t think we’ll see anything here in a couple of weeks, much closer to that free agency date on July 28th. “

Carolina gave Hamilton permission to speak to other NHL teams, opening the door to a potential sign-and-trade deal after contract talks between the team and the player broke off during the season. With that freedom, Hamilton has the opportunity to see if there is a better deal on the market than what the Hurricanes have to offer.

Hamilton will be an unrestricted free agent upon signing a six-year contract for $ 34.5 million. He was traded from the Calgary Flames to Carolina in June 2018.

The 27-year-old scored 10 goals and 42 points in 55 regular season games and added two goals and five points in 11 playoff games this season.