Hurricanes GM hopes to extend Hamilton before season

Though the two sides have yet to begin contract negotiations, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell hopes to lock up star defenseman Dougie Hamilton to a long-term deal in the near future.

"We're getting close to talking about it (contract extension)," Waddell said Thursday, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.

He added: "He is a UFA at the end of the year, so we'd like to get that one done sooner than later. That one, you would have doubts if you play out the season, so it makes sense to try to get something done before the start of the season."

The 27-year-old has one season remaining on his current deal, which he signed with the Calgary Flames in 2015. The Hurricanes acquired the defenseman prior to the 2018-19 campaign.

Hamilton was among the Norris Trophy front-runners in 2019-20 before he fractured his fibula in January, sidelining him for the remainder of the regular season. He amassed 14 goals and 26 assists in 47 games.

However, Waddell knows it will be increasingly difficult to sign Hamilton to a lucrative long-term deal due to the financial implications of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"You've got a flat cap for the next two years, we know that," Waddell said. "We also know that the market's changed. I'm not saying we're not going to do a long-term deal, but the long-term deals, if you look at free agency, you've only got a few guys that got more than three years in the whole market. ... So I think the market has changed and it should change because of the situation we're all-in."

Hamilton is a key part of a strong defensive group in Carolina. The team already has Jaccob Slavin, Jake Gardiner, Brady Skjei, and Brett Pesce signed for at least the next three seasons.