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Still Plenty of Interest in Hainsey |
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It has come as a surprise to many that Ron Hainsey is still out there on the free agent market on July 25 in a market that puts a premium price on defenseman. In Hainsey's case, however, that premium has actually worked against him a bit. He had a $4.5 million cap hit on his last contract and teams did not think the next logical step in the market place -- a cap hit up to about the $5 million range -- was suitable to his likely place in the lineup.
Hainsey is a solid defenseman who could play on any team in the NHL but he's not a top-pairing type, and that's where the market flatlined on him a bit at the start of free agency, especially with the cap ceiling going down for next year. That is NOT to say there has not been plenty of interest in the player, however. It was just a matter of finding a mutually agreeable cap hit (likely in about the range of what he made last season in Winnipeg) and length of contract.
Last I heard, there were four teams still in the running for Hainsey. Increasingly it appears that wherever he signs, it will be for one or two years. The Hurricanes remain the clear frontrunners, but Columbus also maintains strong interest and both Nashville and Washington are in the running as well.
Hainsey has been patient in weighing his options but a final decision appears to be drawing close. Stay tuned....
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