Ben Shelley: Dougie Hamilton’s contract situation looms large over Hurricanes’ offseason

Carolina just waiting to sign Hamilton after the expansion draft?

Seattle might be the biggest problem. They will likely have lots of cap to work with, and Hamilton would be an ideal first UFA signing for the new team.

Right now, Hamilton probably doesn't want to sign with Carolina because he feels like he'd be leaving money on the table. I think Carolina is afraid that the main competition is Seattle and their $81.5M in cap space. Hamilton is not inclined to sign with Carolina now, because then he'd forfeit the chance to explore his worth on the free market.

By giving Hamilton permission to talk to teams now, he can go out and find what he can get from all the other teams in the league not named the Kraken. If the deals aren't good enough to warrant him going to UFA, then he can re-sign before the expansion draft and Carolina can use a protection slot on him, and then the Canes don't have to worry about losing him to Seattle.

If he gets an offer from a team that Carolina can't match, then the Canes know that he's leaving anyway and can use final protection slot on Jake Bean instead.

Ben Shelley: Dougie Hamilton’s contract situation looms large over Hurricanes’ offseason
- Ben.Shelley

Ben why in the life do I keep hearing sign & trade. If Hamilton finds a way better cash offer from a team & Carolina doesnt want to match, he can just go to uFA & sign away. Why would team give up huge assets for a sign & trade. At best, Carolina might get a 3rd round pick for his rights, at best! Id Dougie knows he's heading to another team on a long term deal, he's going to win a Cup not help gut the team he's going to so the Canes can get a return. Not sure where this sign & trade thing is coming from.

Ben why in the life do I keep hearing sign & trade. If Hamilton finds a way better cash offer from a team & Carolina doesnt want to match, he can just go to uFA & sign away. Why would team give up huge assets for a sign & trade. At best, Carolina might get a 3rd round pick for his rights, at best! Id Dougie knows he's heading to another team on a long term deal, he's going to win a Cup not help gut the team he's going to so the Canes can get a return. Not sure where this sign & trade thing is coming from.
- Kevin R

Would only be to add the extra year to the deal, if desired by the new team, i presume. Like you said, might just be a mid round pick or propect, like you say, but it's something more than nothing.

Would only be to add the extra year to the deal, if desired by the new team, i presume. Like you said, might just be a mid round pick or propect, like you say, but it's something more than nothing.
- Beergu

There's no such thing as a sign & trade in the NHL. You can sign and then trade, or trade and then sign, but both are separate transactions. They're very risky for both player and team, because Hamilton could sign a 8 year deal with Carolina expecting to be traded to Philadelphia (for example), then Carolina could change their minds and decide they'd be perfectly happy to keep him.

Alternatively, Philadelphia (same example) could decide after Hamilton signs with Carolina that they don't actually want him and refuse to agree to the trade, in which case Carolina is now stuck with a 8-year deal they don't actually want.

I can see Hamilton signing an extension with his new team immediately after being traded, but it's incredibly unlikely that he'll sign a deal with Carolina and then be traded elsewhere. Too much risk.

Plan B: play Gardiner more

Given his supposed trade request, what would Foegele take to acquire?

Given his supposed trade request, what would Foegele take to acquire?
- MaximumBone

I saw Friedman's comments that Foegele wanted to move on. It surprises me because BrindAmour has given him tons of opportunities. He is a hard worker which generally keeps players out of RBA's doghouse. I guess the grass may be greener somewhere else. His scoring skill level ceiling is that of a power forward with low individual scoring or on a checking line.

I think Carolina should get in touch with Doug Armstrong of the Blues and work out a sign and trade with Carolina getting Torey Krug to replace Hamilton. This would keep the cap hit at $6.75M for six years and only an increase of $750,000 from what he makes now! Krug is more cut out for the Eastern Conference than the West plus the Blues need to get rid of one or two of their midget defensemen!