Canucks land big free agent prize, sign D Dan Hamhuis to 6-year deal

Canucks sign sought after D Hamhuis to 6-year deal

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Highly sought after free agent defenseman Dan Hamhuis has finally found a home with the Vancouver Canucks.

Twice traded since the end of the season to teams hoping to sign the talented defenseman, Hamhuis reached a six-year, $27 million deal with the Canucks on Thursday, the first day free agents could negotiate with any club.

The 27-year-old Hamhuis had spent his entire NHL career with the Nashville Predators, posting 32 goals and 161 in 483 games. His rights were traded by Nashville to Philadelphia and then to Pittsburgh, but neither club could get a deal made before he hit the open market on Thursday.

It was the latest improvement to the Canucks’ defense corps. Vancouver acquired Keith Ballard from Florida in a trade completed last weekend during the NHL draft.