
70 Percent Chance
Adding to the complex defense situation – and the only guy of the eight possible current Hurricanes blue liners we haven’t mentioned yet – is Dougie Hamilton. Simply put, if this blue liner for scorer deal happens, Hamilton is absolutely the most likely of the group to be moved.
Hamilton is signed through 2021 which really adds to him being the guy. His new team would get a power play and goal scoring machine, a guy who just went through a playoff race and a player not on expiring deal. If it doesn’t work out? No problem, easily move him in the next off season or don’t re-sign him after 2021. The risk reward for a team with Hamilton is so low, it just makes the most sense.
The Van Riesmdyk injury – and the fact that De Haan may not be 100 percent to start the year either – point towards thinking the opening night blue line is Slavin, Pesce, Faulk, De Haan, Hamilton and Fleury – but those odds have to be at best 50 percent.
Individually speaking, there is really good chance that 7 of these 8 defensemen mentioned are Hurricanes. But who the odd man out is really is the question of the off-season. It could be as simple as Bean needs another year and they stick with this seven. Or we could see two or three moved. It’s really up in the air at this point.