The Carolina Hurricanes are ready to talk contract with Sebastian Aho.
The two sides held negotiations earlier this offseason but put talks on hold once Aho headed home to Finland for the summer. But with the winger back in Raleigh for training camp, Carolina is prepared to take another crack at locking in a new deal.
"He's in town now and we'll pick up talks," Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "We had some talks in the summertime, but just felt it wasn't the right time. So now that he's back, we'd like to put some time into (it), and I think they feel the same way. Hopefully we can come out of here with a resolution."
Aho is entering the final year of his entry-level contract that carries a $925,000 cap hit, plus performance bonuses.
After finishing with over 45 points in each of his first two NHL campaigns, there should be no doubt that the 21-year-old is due for a big-time raise.
Waddell's goal is to have Aho put pen to paper before the Hurricanes open the season on Oct. 4 against the New York Islanders.
"I'm not one to put these deadlines and all that right now, but the goal would be let's get it behind us so we all can move forward," Waddell said. "He's proven he's a good player. We don't know what the ceiling is yet for him, but you get to know him as a player and a person and he's the kind of guy you continue to build players and pieces around."
The Hurricanes selected Aho with the 35th pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
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