Hurricanes unsure if Williams will retire or return next season

The Carolina Hurricanes are awaiting a decision from captain Justin Williams on whether he'll retire or return for a 19th NHL season.

"We've been in contact with Justin here recently," general manager Don Waddell told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "He hasn't given us 100 percent yet which way he's going to go. I think he potentially could be leaning toward playing, but I think in the next few weeks it will shake out."

Williams, who will turn 38 in October, had his two-year, $9-million contract with the Hurricanes expire on July 1. This is his second stint with the club, which believes Carolina is where he'll end his career - one way or another.

"If he's going to play, we feel he's going to play here in Carolina," Waddell said. "He built a house here, his family's here, and he said all along this is where he wants to play."

Williams put together another strong season in 2018-19, registering 53 points in 82 games before adding seven more during the club's run to the Eastern Conference Final.