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“I was thrilled and so was she and the fact is, I don’t have a contract for next year,” said Hamhuis. “That’s why I wanted to do it, just in case if I don’t come back here. But we’ve got a couple of months to sort it (contract) out and we’re not in any rush right now. There haven’t been any numbers thrown out, but I don’t think it should be too difficult because the comparables are out there and it shouldn’t be too complicated of an negotiation.

“Based on what I’ve talked about with Jim (Benning) and Trevor (Linden) in the last 365 days, they kind of always hinted that we would be talking a contract extension at some time and I still feel that both sides will try to work something out. I feel confident that we can either get a deal done in Vancouver — where I can play a big role and contribute on and off the ice — or with another team in July.

“I feel I’ll have interest in free agency. You could probably chase money and term, if that’s what you wanted to do, and it would be harder to get it here. It’s always been important for me to have the right fit and that’s something that will be going through our heads between now and July 1 — if it gets to July 1. There are a lot of ifs.”

There’s all kinds of logic to suggest that Hamhuis could be playing elsewhere next fall because all sentiment aside, this is a business. He needs to maximize his worth and not take a significant cut from the $4.25 million he was paid this season.

After recovering from taking a puck to the face on Dec. 9, and having his face reconstructed, he regained form and could command market value and term contract to close out his career. The 33-year-old Smithers native left money on the table to return to his home province on his last contract with a six-year, $27 million US deal. There was significant interest at this season’s trade deadline, but the Dallas Stars went with the younger and cheaper Kris Russell, 28, who got hurt and doesn’t have contract leverage to hit a free-agency home run.