Hurricanes owner: Waddell 'not going anywhere' despite Wild interest

Tom Dundon wants to end the speculation about Don Waddell once and for all.

The Carolina Hurricanes owner said his general manager will remain in the role despite recently interviewing for the vacant Minnesota Wild GM position.

"To me, he's employed by the Carolina Hurricanes," Dundon told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti on Wednesday. "He's employed and he's not going anywhere as far as I'm concerned."

Dundon confirmed Tuesday that Waddell spoke to the Wild about their job and that the Carolina GM's contract expired earlier this summer.

"So the whole contract thing, I don't understand it," Dundon said Wednesday. "I have found this weird since I got into the hockey business that the business people all have contracts. I never had contracts with the people that worked for me. It was just, 'If you do a good job (and) I like you, you'll work here, and I'll treat you fair.'"

The owner said Tuesday that he would have allowed Waddell to interview with the Wild even if the GM was still under contract with the Hurricanes.

In May, Waddell said he and Dundon had already agreed he would be back as Carolina GM despite his contract situation.

The 60-year-old executive was a finalist for the General Manager of the Year Award that ultimately went to Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney in June. Waddell built a Carolina club that returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and reached the Eastern Conference Final this past spring.

Minnesota fired former GM Paul Fenton last week after one campaign at the helm.