Hurricanes allow Dougie Hamilton to speak with other teams

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Hurricanes reportedly give Dougie Hamilton permission to speak with other NHL teams

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 6/14/21

Dougie Hamilton will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it appears he might not return to the Carolina Hurricanes.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Carolina has given Hamilton permission to speak with other NHL clubs, which opens up the possibility of a sign-and-trade.

The other thing this does: allows Hamilton to see if the Hurricanes do make the best offer for him…potentially allowing for a return if he doesn’t like what he sees out there. Very interesting manoeuvre by team and player
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 14, 2021

The Hurricanes tried to re-sign Hamilton before the 2020-21 campaign began, his agent told the Raleigh News and Observer, but it didn't work out, and the two sides decided to table contract discussions until after the season.

Hamilton is coming off a six-year, $34.5 million deal he signed as a member of the Calgary Flames in 2015. It's unclear if he'll be searching for a similar deal in free agency.

Although the Hurricanes are allowing him to scope out the market, it appears his teammates want him to return next season. During his exit interview, Jaccob Slavin said Hamilton has been a "huge part" of Carolina's success and he wants him back in 2021-22 and beyond.

The 27-year-old has flourished in two seasons with the Hurricanes, notching 42 goals and 121 points in 184 games. He'll be highly sought after by teams looking for a right-shot offensive defenseman.

More must-reads: