Penguins/NHL
Shero speaks to Hamhuis directly today, Wade Arnott
Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero began his sales pitch directly today with defenseman Dan Hamhuis and Wade Arnott, the agent for Hamhuis.
“We spoke again today, ” Arnott told Inside Pittsburgh Sports, just after 5:00 p.m.
“Ray also had an opportunity to speak with Dan directly, ” Arnott added.
However, Arnott told me no real negotiations have taken place, just preliminary talks.
The indication I have been given is that Hamhuis hasn’t made up his mind if he will even decide to negotiate with Pittsburgh.
The Penguins are hopeful to kick off negotiations tomorrow morning but Arnott would not confirm if that would be the case.
Free agency begins at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 1.
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 Shero served as Nashville’s assistant GM.
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.
