James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s report indicating the Carolina Hurricanes will allow Dougie Hamilton to speak with other clubs created a stir in the NHL rumor mill. Matt Larkin compiled a tiered list of potential sign-and-trade suitors for the 27-year-old defenseman, with the Philadelphia Flyers among the potential pursuers.
Larkin observed the Flyers need a proper right-shot defenseman to pair with Ivan Provorov on their top pairing. While Hamilton would fit the bill, he might not be their top choice.
In his recent “31 Thoughts” column, Friedman reported the Flyers’ defense targets could be elsewhere. He speculated Seth Jones of the Columbus Blue Jackets or Matt Dumba of the Minnesota Wild could be on their radar.
The Blue Jackets are expected to trade Jones this summer after the 26-year-old rearguard informed them of his intent to test next summer’s free-agent market. Meanwhile, the Wild could shop Dumba if unable to protect him in next month’s expansion draft. As Friedman observed, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher knows Dumba well from his days as Wild GM.
Landing either of those defensemen will be expensive for the Flyers. The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Sam Carchidi suggested it could cost them “multiple high draft picks and either Travis Sanheim or Phil Myers for starters” to get Hamilton. He also believed it would cost a lot to get Jones. The Wild could set a hefty price for Dumba.
If Jones or Dumba aren’t available, the Flyers could look more favorably upon Hamilton. Doing so, however, means sending some salary to the Hurricanes or making a separate cost-cutting deal. Cap Friendly shows them with $69.2 million invested in 17 players with Sanheim and goaltender Carter Hart to re-sign.
