There were some questions coming into this offseason about new Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon’s willingness to spend to improve his club. Those sprang from internal hires of former business president Don Waddell as the team’s new GM, and former assistant coach Rod Brind’Amour as head coach.
Both Dundon and Waddell talked about the (legitimate) dangers of adding players via free agency, and Canes fans thought they would see another offseason of bargain hunting.
Those doubts should have been washed away by the slew of moves Waddell has made so far this offseason. After swinging a trade at the draft to land top offensive defenseman Dougie Hamilton from the Calgary Flames, the Canes had a need for a defenseman that could play the left side after losing Noah Hanifin in that deal. So, Waddell went out and signed free agent Calvin de Haan for four years at an AAV of $4.55 million.
The deal is significant for two reasons. The first is that Dundon green lit a free agent deal for a top player. The Canes needed a left-side defender, and Waddell was able to snag arguably the best on the market. De Haan’s total deal of $18.2 million over four years is the largest external free agent contract the Hurricanes have signed in the post 2004-05 lockout era.
In addition, the Canes’ current projected payroll of over $66 million is also the largest in that span. None of this seems to paint a picture of an owner who’s unwilling to spend to improve his team, does it?
“I think it’s always important when you have the opportunity to sign good players and you can actually get them,” Waddell said. “Because so many teams are looking for these type of players so to be the winner on it makes you feel good. First I give credit to Tom Dundon obviously for stepping up and being willing to go after free agents. Like Tom says, if we like the player and it’s going to make us better, he’s all in.”
Of course, it takes two sides to make a deal. Just as the Hurricanes have to be willing to pay market value for a free agent, that player has to want to sign in Carolina. A nine-year playoff drought hasn’t exactly turned Carolina into a marquee destination for free agents, but that could be changing.
The team is on the rise, led by its young core of forwards Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, Andrei Svechnikov and Marin Necas as well as defenseman Hamilton, Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce.
Despite the Hurricanes’ lengthy postseason absence, de Haan saw a situation he wanted to be part of and help the Hurricanes take the next step, even reportedly leaving more money on the table elsewhere to do so.
“The Carolina Hurricanes are an annoying team to play against as a defenseman,” de Haan said. “There’s fast, skilled forwards up front. When you look at the overall team’s possession numbers over the past few years, they’re annoying to play against. It’s something I took into consideration. I respect those guys. Not making the playoffs for nine years, it sucks. I want to be a part of that solution to help make the team better, to help make the fans in Raleigh appreciate the Hurricanes. We want people in those seats. I will do my best to help the winning cause and put the Hurricanes and Carolina back on the map.”
While one free agent signing certainly won’t completely turn things around for the Hurricanes, getting de Haan makes a statement that this is a team that wants to win. If Dundon and Waddell can continue the positive momentum they’ve built so far this offseason, better days could be ahead.
