So.Much.Wrong.
Hamilton currently makes $5.75M. He’s producing at an elite rate offensively, and you think he’s possibly going to sign for $5.5M?
It’s already been reported that the ask from Hamilton has been comparable to what Pietrangelo got, so he’s looking for $8M+. If you think he’s going to take significantly less than that, I have a bridge to sell you.
Every time someone bring us up the “Dougie has found a home” narrative, he shoots it down. Does he like it in Raleigh? Probably. Will he leave if CAR won’t pay him? Absolutely.
I think his age and "calibre" will help alleviate that potential issue wherever he goes.
In Boston, it was Big Z's team; with Krug playing a big offensive role. In Calgary, it was Giordano's team, and he had Brodie as his running-mate.
In Carolina, yes, it was Slavin's team; but Slavin is literally the perfect compliment for Dougie Hamilton's game. If Hamilton is leaving Carolina, he's going to a place where he's almost certainly going to be the highest paid and best defenceman on the team. That team is going to build their D around him, ensuring that he does have success.
Personally, I think the Canes are dumb for potentially letting him walk. They've got one of the best, if not the best, defensive groups in the league. Slavin has 4 years left on his deal and Pesce & Skjei 3 years so it's not like Hamilton's contract is going to become an immediate benchmark for re-calibrating the internal wage scale.
Even with Svechnikov coming up for a new deal, they should be able to clear the space to keep him at $8.5m without too harshly affecting the team.