Defenseman Dougie Hamilton will be leaving the Carolina Hurricanes after three seasons, opting to sign a seven-year contract with the New Jersey Devils at a $9 million cap hit.
Hamilton scored 10 goals and 42 points in 55 games with the Hurricanes this season and played in a top-pairing role. His departure is sure to leave a sizeable hole in Carolina’s defense group.
The Hurricanes have added two other defensemen, however, signing both Ian Cole and Tony DeAngelo.
Cole is 32 years old and spent the majority of his season with the Minnesota Wild, scoring a total of eight points in 54 games. His deal is for one year and carries a $2.9 million cap hit.
Two-time Stanley Cup champ Ian Cole is Raleigh-bound!
DeAngelo is 25 years old and was bought out by the New York Rangers this offseason. His deal is for a single year as well and carries a $1 million cap hit.
The team also signed forwards Josh Leivo and C.J. Smith. Leivo scored six goals and nine points in 38 games with the Calgary Flames this year, while Smith spent the majority of the season with the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
Two more players who won’t be back with the Hurricanes, however, are Brock McGinn and James Reimer. McGinn signed a four-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins at a $2.75 million AAV, while Reimer signed a two-year deal with the San Jose Sharks, at $2.25 million per year.
Forward Cedric Paquette has also joined the Montreal Canadiens, while defenseman Roland McKeown is heading to the Colorado Avalanche.
These moves come in addition to the signings of goalies Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta, the re-signing of Jordan Martinook and a trade which sent Warren Foegele to the Edmonton Oilers, in exchange for defenseman Ethan Bear. Goalie Petr Mrazek also signed a contract to join the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Should the Hurricanes have been willing to give Dougie Hamilton a seven-year deal at a $9 million AAV, in order to keep him?
Carolina Hurricanes Blogger • 
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