Linden: ‘we’ve told Hamhuis to expect to be a free agent’
7 years ago
BUFFALO, NY – It certainly appears as if the Dan Hamhuis era is
over in Vancouver.
over in Vancouver.
Canucks President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden all but
confirmed that news Saturday at the completion of the second day of National
Hockey League draft. Despite repeated suggestions from the hockey club over the past few months that there may be a way to resign Hamhuis, the Canucks have now informed the
33-year-old defenseman to be ready to hit the open market after six successful
seasons in his home province.
confirmed that news Saturday at the completion of the second day of National
Hockey League draft. Despite repeated suggestions from the hockey club over the past few months that there may be a way to resign Hamhuis, the Canucks have now informed the
33-year-old defenseman to be ready to hit the open market after six successful
seasons in his home province.
“We’re still going through some things this week, but we’ve
talked to his representative and said that he can expect to be a free agent,”
Linden said. “We’ll see where we are, but we told him to go into it with that
expectation.”
talked to his representative and said that he can expect to be a free agent,”
Linden said. “We’ll see where we are, but we told him to go into it with that
expectation.”
It’s believed Alex Burrows and Chris Higgins will join
Hamhuis as unrestricted free agents after club buyouts. However, Linden claims
no final decision has been made in either case. The Canucks’ management staff is
flying home from Buffalo Saturday and will gather in Vancouver to continue personnel
discussions. All buyout decisions must be made by 2pm Pacific time on Thursday
June 30th.
Hamhuis as unrestricted free agents after club buyouts. However, Linden claims
no final decision has been made in either case. The Canucks’ management staff is
flying home from Buffalo Saturday and will gather in Vancouver to continue personnel
discussions. All buyout decisions must be made by 2pm Pacific time on Thursday
June 30th.
“We’ve talked as a group and we’ll continue to talk and we’ll
probably make that decision over the weekend and into Monday,” Linden said.
probably make that decision over the weekend and into Monday,” Linden said.
He also confirmed the Canucks have plans to take advantage
of the weeklong negotiating period that is now underway to meet with potential
free agents. While not naming specific players, Linden said the Canucks did
have plans to bring a couple of the high-profile free agent candidates into
Vancouver to sell them on the hockey club and the city. Linden said the team
did not meet with any pending free agents while in Buffalo and also stated that
the team at this point in time has not reached out to the agents for Steven
Stamkos.
of the weeklong negotiating period that is now underway to meet with potential
free agents. While not naming specific players, Linden said the Canucks did
have plans to bring a couple of the high-profile free agent candidates into
Vancouver to sell them on the hockey club and the city. Linden said the team
did not meet with any pending free agents while in Buffalo and also stated that
the team at this point in time has not reached out to the agents for Steven
Stamkos.
Jim Benning drew the attention of the National Hockey League
earlier in the weekend when he told TSN 1040 radio that he had plans to contact
the Stamkos camp and that he had made inquiries with Montreal general manager
Marc Bergevin about the cost to acquire star defenseman PK Subban. The league
met with Linden and Benning over the draft weekend and the Canucks organization
will likely face some sort of financial penalty.
earlier in the weekend when he told TSN 1040 radio that he had plans to contact
the Stamkos camp and that he had made inquiries with Montreal general manager
Marc Bergevin about the cost to acquire star defenseman PK Subban. The league
met with Linden and Benning over the draft weekend and the Canucks organization
will likely face some sort of financial penalty.
“I talked with Bill (NHL Deputy Commissione Bill Daly) and
he recognized they were rather innocent comments and I think were, at the time,
in an effort to be candidate and honest, but probably crossed the line
somewhat, Linden said. “We’ll hear from them on Monday.”
he recognized they were rather innocent comments and I think were, at the time,
in an effort to be candidate and honest, but probably crossed the line
somewhat, Linden said. “We’ll hear from them on Monday.”
As for any lingering hard feelings between the Canucks and
the Canadiens or any personal animosity that may carry over between Benning and
Bergevin, Linden doesn’t expect that to be an issue. In fact, he says the two
general managers were back on speaking terms on the draft floor Saturday and
even tried to get a minor deal done.
the Canadiens or any personal animosity that may carry over between Benning and
Bergevin, Linden doesn’t expect that to be an issue. In fact, he says the two
general managers were back on speaking terms on the draft floor Saturday and
even tried to get a minor deal done.
“Berg and Jim have talked the past couple of days about
various scenarios, so it’s part of it,” he said. “They’ve done a lot of things
together and they talked at the table about swapping a pick. So I don’t see any
problem.”
various scenarios, so it’s part of it,” he said. “They’ve done a lot of things
together and they talked at the table about swapping a pick. So I don’t see any
problem.”
During his 10 minute discussion with the media, Linden also
revealed the Canucks will hold training camp in Whistler for the second time in
three years. They were also based there in 2014 for Willie Desjardins’ first
camp as head coach of the Canucks.
revealed the Canucks will hold training camp in Whistler for the second time in
three years. They were also based there in 2014 for Willie Desjardins’ first
camp as head coach of the Canucks.
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