from Cam Charron of TheScore,

...some managers could have different reasons for not wanting to take a flyer on Hainsey. He seems like he could be a useful player, but a lot of teams probably have a player they see as good as Hainsey coming up in house that won’t cost so much against the salary cap.

I wouldn’t be too surprised to see Hainsey end up in the NHL in the future but I don’t see too many teams that have use for him as a second pairing player and the salary cap space available, unless Hainsey were willing to take a significant cut. Unlike Tom Gilbert, Hainsey doesn’t have buyout money coming his way, so he’s going to have to take a cut soon if he wants to play in the NHL this season or go over to Europe.

Still, as one of hockey’s remaining UFAs, particularly for a guy who has played so many minutes in the last few years, it’s odd he’s still available. Not that he’s been a world beater or my first choice of defenceman off the free agency wire that remain (Gilbert), but he’s definitely better than some players that have signed already.

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