No deal in place between Pens, Hamhuis
Friday, June 25, 2010 / by William DePaoli / / Inside Access, Pittsburgh Penguins / 0 comments
The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired the rights to defenseman Dan Hamhuis from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a third round pick in 2011. The trade was made at the end of the first round.
Hamhuis, 27, spent his first six NHL seasons with the Nashville Predators before being traded to the Flyers last week. He was originally drafted 12th overall by the Predators in 2001 when Pens GM Ray Shero served as Nashville's assistant GM.
Hamhuis, 27, has been a top target of the Penguins since the 2010 NHL trade deadline.
The 6-foot-1, 209-pound Hamhuis, who will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, appeared in 78 games for the Predators this past season, scoring five goals and adding 24 points to go with a plus-4 rating.
Regarding contract negotiations, Wade Arnott the agent for Dan Hamhuis tells Inside Pittsburgh Sports this evening that no deal is in place. There has been no indication from Hamhuis camp on when talks will officially begin.
They are waiting to talk to Penguins GM Ray Shero. However, talks between the two sides will likely begin tomorrow morning in Los Angeles.
The belief is that the Penguins are prepared to offer Hamhuis, Brooks Orpik type of money ($3.5 – 3.75 million) and a contract in the 5-to-6 year range.