In his end-of-season media availability on Thursday, Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Dougie Hamilton took an apparent potshot at the team that eliminated his club on Tuesday night - the Tampa Bay Lightning - and their salary-cap management before almost immediately walking back the remark.

"If you think about how many players you could add to your team with that money, you realize how much deeper you would be," Hamilton said.

Money will be the focus of Hamilton's offseason because he just completed the final year of his six-year, $34.5 million deal and is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

Hamilton says there is nothing new to report on contract talks.

"Everyone knows I really enjoy it here," Hamilton said, "I have some really good friends, have met some really good people here."

In 55 games this past season, his ninth in the NHL, Hamilton recorded 10 goals and 32 assists over 22:43 of ice time a night.  He chipped in two goals and three assists in 11 playoff contests over 25:21 of ice time a game.