Report: Canes grant Hamilton permission to talk to other teams

Apparently, the Carolina Hurricanes aren't entirely optimistic about their chances of re-signing stalwart defenseman Dougie Hamilton.

The Hurricanes have granted the pending unrestricted free agent permission to speak to other teams, which opens the door for a potential sign-and-trade, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.

Hamilton could still potentially re-sign with Carolina if he gauges the market and realizes the Canes are making him the best offer, Friedman added.

The 6-foot-6 blue-liner recorded 42 points in 55 games during the 2020-21 campaign and received down-ballot Norris Trophy votes in each of the previous four seasons. Hamilton turns 28 on Thursday.

Carolina is no stranger to such scenarios - the club shipped pending UFA defenseman Joel Edmundson to the Montreal Canadiens last offseason for a fifth-round pick. Edmundson went on to sign a four-year, $14-million deal with the Habs.

Kevin Hayes was the last major player to have his rights traded before unrestricted free agency in 2019 when the Winnipeg Jets dealt him to the Philadelphia Flyers for a fifth-round pick. Philly ended up signing Hayes to a seven-year, $50-million contract.