Setting the DeAngelo signing aside, this is, and has been a constant within the Canes org since Dundon took over. It appears to me that like he said, there are a lot of people that can do the job so he's not going to pay top dollar for roles that he views as "replaceable".
Pretty much every scout and team management that was with Carolina when he took over was replaced with (presumably) cheaper scouts once their contract expired.
Francis - fired
AGM Olczyk,
Wesley,
Scouts: Kron, Dawson, MacDonald, Marshall, and a few more.
Kaiton
Forslund
and a cast of others.
I'm not saying this is the case with Mike Smith, but if the Canes don't want to pay him as much, I wouldn't be surprised to see him seek greener pastures.