Hamhuis going back to Nashville
Dan Hamhuis is returning to Music City.
The former Prince George Cougar defenceman has signed a two-year contract worth $2.5 million US to play for the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him 12th overall in 2001.
The 35-year-old Hamhuis, a six-foot-one, 204-pound native of Smithers, played six seasons with the Predators from 2003-10 before signing with the Vancouver Canucks.
He was a staple on the Canucks’ blueline for six seasons until he moved on to the Dallas Stars, signing as a free agent in 2016. He played the past two seasons in Dallas and put up three goals and 24 points in 80 games last season.
He had his most productive NHL season in 2005-06 when he had seven goals and 31 points for 38 points in 80 games. In 2011-12, the season after he helped the Canucks reach the Stanley Cup final, he had a 37-point campaign.
In 14 NHL seasons Hamhuis has played 1,031 regular season games, recording 59 goals and 284 assists for 343 points, with 621 penalty minutes. In 62 playoff games over nine seasons he totaled three goals 18 assists 21 points and 54 penalty minutes.
Hamhuis captured Olympic gold in Sochi in 2014, won world championship gold in 2007 and 2015 and was a world championship silver medalist in 2008 and 2009.
In May 2014, Hamhuis became a minority owner of the Cougars when EDGEPRo Sports and Entertainment Ltd., bought the Western Hockey League team. Hamhuis played four seasons for the Cougars from 1998-2002 and in 2002 won the WHL’s player of the year and defenceman of the year awards. He played in two world junior championships, winning bronze in 2001 and silver in 2002.