The Nashville Predators have signed free agent defenseman Dan Hamhuis to a two-year deal worth $2.5 million or $1.25 million per season AAV. This deal carries him through the 2019-20 season.

The #Preds have signed defenseman Dan Hamhuis to a 2-year, $2.5 million contract >> https://t.co/fAcLGdtRdA

— Nashville Predators PR (@PredsPR) July 25, 2018

Nashville Predators Sign Free Agent Defenseman Dan Hamhuis

Over his 14-year NHL career, Hamhuis has played for the Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, and Dallas Stars. He has 59 goals and 284 assists for 343 career points in 1,031 career NHL games. Hamhuis has also added three goals and 18 assists for 21 points in 62 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. He was originally drafted in the first round, 12th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Predators. His best season was in 2005-06 when he scored seven goals and 31 assists for 38 points in 82 games.

This past season, he scored three goals and 21 assists for 24 points in 80 games. He also added 33 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 50.4 percent Corsi with a relative Corsi of -1.2 percent. Hamhuis is coming off a two year, $7.5 million dollar contract ($3.75 million AAV) that he signed with the Stars in July 2016.

What This Means for Hamuis’ Future

Hamuis will bring his experience and ability to block shots to his new club. He finished in the top ten in hits during his two years with the Stars. Last season with the Stars he played on the third pairing with Julius Honka. In his two seasons in Dallas, he averaged a career-low of 19:47 of ice-time. The 35-year-old defenseman will look to continue his NHL career in search of his first Stanley Cup. He is a veteran player, reliable on the bottom pair, and a source of leadership to the youngsters on the team. He may not bring the offensive numbers he did earlier in his career, but Hamhuis is still a valuable defensive player who can kill penalties.

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