Morrow should be Canes’ free-agent target

As the next generation of would-be Carolina Hurricanes goes through the July ritual of development camp, the current generation still needs some help. While the Hurricanes continue to sniff around free-agent defenseman Ron Hainsey, there’s another player who may fill a bigger need.

There is one free agent still out there who was a teammate of Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller with the Dallas Stars, a 34-year-old left wing who scored 12 goals in 44 games last season, although his contributions here would go far beyond production.

Brenden Morrow is still out there.

Morrow’s agent, Brad Devine, confirmed via email Wednesday that he talked with the Hurricanes earlier this summer and expected to talk with them again. Meanwhile, doors appear to be closing at other more likely destinations, like Montreal and Detroit.

Whether the Hurricanes could even afford him remains uncertain. The Hurricanes have almost $5 million in cap space, but they’re up against their internal budget with a payroll of $59.3 million. They could maybe add another million and change, but they would likely have to move a contract to add Morrow, just as they would to add Hainsey, a rumored target.

Hainsey would be a fantastic addition to the Hurricanes’ defense, but unless they’re moving Joni Pitkanen to make room,
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