Hamhuis' Rights Get Dealt Again

TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Friday night prior to the 2010 NHL Entry Draft that contract negotiations between the Philadelphia Flyers and recently acquired pending unrestricted free agent Dan Hamhuis were "not at all close." It appears they were far enough apart for the Flyers to give up just one week after gaining his rights from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Ryan Parent. Shortly after the completion of the first round of the draft on Friday, the Flyers moved Hamhuis' rights to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a third round selection in next year's draft.

Although the Flyers would have loved to get Hamhuis inked, they essentially gained a conditional seventh rounder (acquired with Hamhuis from Nashville) and a third rounder next year for Parent, who was largely underwhelming in his four seasons with Philly.

The Penguins may have just acquired their replacement for Sergei Gonchar, who is still in talks with General Manager Ray Shero but is probably pricing himself out of the Penguins' budget by seeking somewhere between $5 to 6 million per year on a three-year deal. Hamhuis is not quite as offensively gifted as Gonchar, but is a solid all-around defender with physical ability and the occasional scoring touch.