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Flyers, Hamhuis no closer to deal

LOS ANGELES - The clock is ticking. While the pressure tonight at the NHL draft will be on some general managers to pull the trigger on a trade or pick a new prospect who could decide their organization's future, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren will be feeling a different pressure.

The Flyers are running out of time to sign potential free agent Dan Hamhuis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Flyers are running out of time to sign potential free agent Dan Hamhuis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)Read more

LOS ANGELES - The clock is ticking. While the pressure tonight at the NHL draft will be on some general managers to pull the trigger on a trade or pick a new prospect who could decide their organization's future, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren will be feeling a different pressure.

After today, he'll have just 5 more days to strike a deal with defenseman Dan Hamhuis, whose rights he acquired on June 19 from Nashville in exchange for Ryan Parent. After that, 29 other NHL teams can make an offer when free agency begins next Thursday, July 1.

According to a source, the two sides are not yet close in negotiations, which began Monday.

Holmgren acquired the rights to Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell from Nashville in 2007 and it took just 2 days to come to terms with both players.

Here in Los Angeles, Holmgren won't be able to focus all his attention on Hamhuis and his agent, Wade Arnott. Holmgren undoubtedly will be involved in trade talks throughout the weekend, possibly for a new goaltender.

Hamhuis, 27, could command as much as $4 million per year.

Despite not being close, the source said negotiations have not come to a halt - even with the flurry of activity at the draft. They are expected to continue through the weekend and heat up after the clock expires on Round 7 tomorrow afternoon.

Slap shots

Former Flyers coach John Stevens officially joined Terry Murray as an assistant coach on the Los Angeles Kings' staff, according to the Los Angeles Times, Murray also is a former Flyers coach . . . Another former head coach, Craig Ramsay, who led the team in 1999-2000, was tapped by the Atlanta Thrashers to be their next head coach . . . Chris Pronger finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting for best defenseman. It was awarded to Chicago's Duncan Keith on Wednesday at the NHL awards show in Las Vegas . . . Captain Mike Richards finished seventh in voting for the Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward, after being a finalist last year. Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk won the award.