Hurricanes Sign Jordan Staal to 10-Year Extension

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have signed newly acquired center Jordan Staal to a 10-year contract extension worth $60 million.  The deal will average out to $6 million per season.  He would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer.  Staal was acquired by the Hurricanes on June 22 from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Brandon Sutter, defenseman Brian Dumoulin, and Carolina's first round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft.  The Penguins used the pick to draft defenseman Derrick Pouliot.  In 62 games last season with the Penguins, Staal had 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points.  He added six goals and three assists for nine points in six playoff games.  The Hurricanes had been seeking a number one center and they got that in Jordan Staal.  He has plenty of offensive talent and two-way skill, skates well, and is excellent on the power play and penalty kill.  Now that he will be the number one center in Carolina, as well as playing alongside brother Eric, look for Staal to increase his offensive numbers in the coming years and help the Hurricanes become more competitive offensively.

Hurricanes Re-Sign Justin Krueger to One-Year Deal

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Justin Krueger to a one-year, two-way contract.  The deal will pay him $600,000 at the NHL level and $90,000 at the AHL level.  If he spends the entire 2012-13 season in the minors, he will make $105,000.  He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1.  In 58 games last season with Charlotte of the AHL, he had two goals and 11 assists for 13 points.  He has yet to appear in an NHL game.  This is really just a depth signing for the Hurricanes, as Krueger will likely spend all of next season in the minors.

Hurricanes Re-Sign McBain, Sanguinetti, Blanchard

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed defenseman Jamie McBain to a two-year, $3.6 million contract extension.  The team also re-signed defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti to a one-year, two-way contract and left wing Nicolas Blanchard to a two-year, two-way contract.  McBain's deal will pay him $1.8 million per season, while Sanguinetti will earn $700,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level.  Blanchard will earn $525,000 if he plays in the NHL and $105,000 if he plays in the AHL.  All three players would have been free agents this summer.  In 76 games this past season, McBain had eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points.  Sanguinetti was held pointless in three games with Carolina.  He also appeared in 60 games with Charlotte of the AHL, scoring 10 goals and 40 assists for 50 points.  Blanchard had nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points and 103 penalty minutes in 68 games with Charlotte.  He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

McBain has lots of offensive upside and skill, as well as good size and plenty of talent for the power play.  Look for him to play a top-four role and continue to improve his defensive skills over the next two seasons.  Sanguinetti has plenty of offensive upside and size and could crack Carolina's lineup next season if he impresses at training camp in the fall.  Blanchard is really just a depth signing and will likely spend the majority of the next two seasons in the minors, where he will provide some offensive depth and toughness for Charlotte.  If he does see any action with the Hurricanes, it will likely be on the checking lines.

Hurricanes Sign Jiri Tlusty to Two-Year Extension

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed left wing Jiri Tlusty to a two-year contract extension worth $3.2 million.  The deal will pay him $1.5 million in 2012-13 and $1.7 million in 2013-14.  He would have been a restricted free agent this summer.  In 79 games this past season, he had 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points, career highs in all three categories.  Not a bad depth move for the Hurricanes, as Tlusty is a good playmaker and is versatile enough to play on both wings despite being very inconsistent in his scoring.  If Tlusty can produce numbers over the next two season like he did this past season, then his salary will be a bargain for Carolina.

Hurricanes Sign Tuomo Ruutu to Four-Year Extension

The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Wednesday that they have signed center Tuomo Ruutu to a four-year contract extension worth $19 million. The deal will average out to $4.75 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer and had been the subject of trade rumors leading up to the February 27 Trade Deadline. In 57 games so far this season, he has 17 goals and 13 assists for 30 points. A wise decision by the Hurricanes to retain Ruutu, as he brings some offensive depth and grit to the forward lines. However, his salary is a bit much for a player of his caliber and injury history, so the team overpaid a bit to retain his services.

Hurricanes Sign Tim Gleason to Four-Year Extension

The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Monday that they have signed defenseman Tim Gleason to a four-year contract extension worth $16 million. The deal will pay him $3.5 million next season, $4.5 million in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and $3.5 million in 2015-16. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 51 games so far this season, he has one goal and 13 assists for 14 points and 44 penalty minutes. An excellent signing for the Hurricanes, as Gleason has become one of the team's top blueliners. He's an excellent shutdown defenseman who has plenty of mobility and plays with some grit. Look for him to continue to be one of Carolina's top defensemen over the next four seasons.

Devils Acquire Alexei Ponikarovsky from Hurricanes

The New Jersey Devils have announced that they have acquired left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Joe Sova and a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. In 50 games this season with the Hurricanes, Ponikarovsky has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points. Sova has two goals and two assists for four points in 14 games with Albany of the AHL. He has also appeared in 18 games with Kalamazoo of the ECHL, scoring two goals and five assists for seven points. Not a bad depth move for the Devils, as Ponikarovsky will bring some two-way skill and offensive ability to the forward lines. More than likely, he will play on the team's third line for the remainder of the season. As for the Hurricanes, the subtraction of Ponikarovsky will give one of their younger forwards an opportunity to step up in the second half of the season. As for Sova, he is really just a depth acquisition for the team and will likely remain in the minors for the remainder of the season.

Hurricanes Acquire Dadonov from Panthers in Four-Player Trade

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have acquired right wing Evgeni Dadonov and left wing A.J. Jenks from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center Jonathan Matsumoto and left wing Mattias Lindstrom. In 15 games this season with the Panthers, Dadonov has two goals and one assist for three points. He has also appeared in 22 games with San Antonio and Charlotte of the AHL, scoring five goals and four assists for nine points. Jenks has appeared in 27 games with San Antonio and Charlotte, scoring no points. He also has three goals and three assists for six points in 13 games with Cincinnati of the ECHL. In 44 games with Charlotte and San Antonio, Matsumoto has 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points, while Lindstrom has two assists in 21 games with Tingsryds AIF of the Swedish Elite League.

For the Hurricanes, Dadonov is the key player in this transaction. He has shown flashes of brilliance at the NHL level, but was never very consistent with the Panthers. He has plenty of scoring upside and some puck-control skill, so the change of scenery might do him some good. However, if Dadonov is unable to improve his game, it's possible he could head back to his native Russia in the off-season. Jenks has a little offensive upside, but for now, he will remain in the minors to improve his overall game. For the Panthers, Lindstrom is the key player in the deal. He has some offensive upside and could see some NHL action down the road. Matsumoto gives the team some depth at center, and could see some time in the NHL if injuries continue to mount for the Panthers.

Hurricanes Claim Andreas Nodl Off Waivers from Flyers

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have claimed left wing Andreas Nodl off waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers. In 12 games with the Flyers this season, he has one assist. He recently missed six games with a lower-body injury. Not a bad move for the Hurricanes, as Nodl will add some two-way ability to the team. He wasn't getting much ice time in Philadelphia, so that figure will likely increase now that he is a member of the Hurricanes.

Bruins Acquire Joe Corvo from Hurricanes

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have acquired defenseman Joe Corvo from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. The move was completed shortly after former Bruins defenseman Tomas Kaberle signed a three-year contract worth $12.75 million with the Hurricanes. In all 82 games last season with Carolina, Corvo had 11 goals and 29 assists for 40 points. This is a good move for the Bruins, as Corvo will bring lots of offensive skill to the blueline. He also has a good shot and excellent skills on the power play, making him an effective replacement in Boston for Kaberle. As for the Hurricanes, they had too many offensive-minded defensemen after signing Kaberle, so Corvo became the odd man out. A fourth round pick was a small price to pay for a player like Corvo and is an excellent and very low-risk move for the Bruins.

Hurricanes Sgin Tomas Kaberle to Three-Year Contract

The Carolina Hurricanes have added some veteran depth to their defensive lineup by signing defenseman Tomas Kaberle to a three-year contract worth $12.75 million. The deal will average out to $4.25 million per season. In 82 games last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, he had four goals and 43 assists for 47 points. He won his first Stanley Cup this past June with the Bruins. Not a bad signing for the Hurricanes, as Kaberle will bring lots of offensive skill and veteran depth to the team's blueline. He's also excellent at passing the puck and adds lots of skill to the power play, making him an effective defenseman for the team who could put up 40-50 points next season.

Hurricanes Add Anthony Stewart and Justin Soryal

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed left wing Anthony Stewart to a two-year contract worth $1.8 million and left wing Justin Soryal to a one-year, two-way contract worth $525,000 at the NHL level. Stewart's deal will average out to $900,000 per season. In 80 games last season with the Atlanta Thrashers, he had 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points. Soryal appeared in 79 games last season with Connecticut of the AHL, scoring three goals and three assists for six points and 220 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. Stewart isn't a bad depth signing for the Hurricanes, as he brings some offensive skill, size, and grit to the forward lines. He will likely land a spot on the checking lines while with the Hurricanes. As for Soryal, he is really just a depth signing and will likely spend all of next season in the minors, providing lots of toughness for Carolina's AHL affiliate in Charlotte.

Hurricanes Add Brian Boucher and Alexei Ponikarovsky

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed goaltender Brian Boucher to a two-year contract worth $1.9 million and left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. Boucher's deal will pay him $950,000 per season. In 34 games last season with the Philadelphia Flyers, Boucher posted an 18-10-4 record, with a 2.42 GAA, and a .916 save percentage. Ponikarovsky appeared in 61 games last season with the Los Angeles Kings, scoring five goals and 10 assists for 15 points. These aren't bad depth signings for the Hurricanes, as both players will bring plenty of veteran depth to their respective positions. Boucher gives the team a solid backup goaltender to starter Cam Ward, while Ponikarovsky brings some offensive ability and two-way skill to the forward lines. The Hurricanes are likely hoping Ponikarovsky will be able to replace some of the offense lost to the team with the departure of Erik Cole to Montreal. However, his offensive game has declined over the past few seasons, so he likely won't be able to replace Cole's offensive output.

Hurricanes Sign Jiri Tlusty to One-Year Contract

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed center Jiri Tlusty to a one-year contract worth $525,000. In 57 games last season with the Hurricanes, he had six goals and six assists for 12 points. He also appeared in five games with Charlotte of the AHL, scoring one goal and one assist for two points. This is an okay depth signing for Carolina, as Tlusty has the skills to become a talented forward at the NHL level, but has been unable to prove it thus far. He does have some playmaking skill and can be creative with the puck, but is not very good defensively and will probably not be a huge goal-scorer. Due to his inconsistency, he will likely be relegated to third or fourth line duties next season in Carolina.

Hurricanes Sign Tim Brent to One-Year Contract

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed center Tim Brent to a two-year contract worth $1.5 million. The deal will pay him $700,000 in 2011-12 and $800,000 in 2012-13. In 79 games last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he had eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points. This is an okay depth signing for the Hurricanes, as Brent will likely only see action on the fourth line. He is a good faceoff man and is a decent checker, so he should be a capable fourth line forward for the team.

Hurricanes Re-Sign Jussi Jokinen to Three-Year Contract

The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Thursday that they have signed center Jussi Jokinen to a three-year contract extension worth $9 million. The deal will pay him $3 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 70 games last season, he had 19 goals and 33 assists for 52 points. He missed six games with an upper body injury in January and another six games with a lower body injury in February. This is a good signing for the Hurricanes, as Jokinen brings a lot of offensive skill to the team on the wing. He has good two-way skill, a great shot, is excellent on the power play, and excels in the shootout. Plus, at $3 million per season, he is a bargain for the Hurricanes.

Hurricanes Sign Chad Larose to Two-Year Contract

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have signed right wing Chad Larose to a two-year contract extension worth $3.4 million. The deal will pay him $1.5 million in 2011-12 and $1.9 million in 2012-13. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In all 82 games last season, he had 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points. This is a decent signing for the Hurricanes, as Larose plays with lots of energy and grit. He also has some offensive ability and two-way skill, making him a reliable checking line forward for the team.

Hurricanes Re-Sign Joni Pitkanen and Patrick Dwyer

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have signed defenseman Joni Pitkanen to a three-year contract worth $13.5 million and center Patrick Dwyer to a two-year contract worth $1.25 million. Pitkanen's deal will average out to $4.5 million per season, while Dwyer's deal will pay him $600,000 in 2011-12 and $650,000 in 2012-13. Both players would have been unrestricted free agents on July 1. In 72 games last season, Pitkanen had five goals and 30 assists for 35 points, while Dwyer had eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 80 games. These are decent signings for the Hurricanes, as both players will bring plenty of depth to the team at their respected positions. Pitkanen provides lots of offensive skill to the team's blueline, as well as some grit, while Dwyer brings lots of versatility and defensive ability to the forward lines.

Hurricanes Sign Jay Harrison to Two-Year Contract

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have signed defenseman Jay Harrison to a two-year contract extension worth $1.4 million. The deal will pay him $650,000 in 2011-12 and $750,000 in 2012-13. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 72 games last season with the Hurricanes, he had three goals and seven assists for 10 points and 72 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Hurricanes, as Harrison is a stay-at-home defenseman with good size and strength and plays with lots of toughness. He will likely continue to play as the team's sixth defenseman over the next two years.

Doug Weight Announces His Retirement

After 19 seasons in the NHL, NY Islanders center and captain Doug Weight has decided to retire. He will stay on with the team as an assistant coach and a special assistant to general manager Garth Snow. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 18 games this past season with the Islanders, he had two goals and seven assists for nine points. He missed the last 64 games of the regular season with back spasms. In 1238 career NHL games with the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, and New York Islanders, he has 278 goals and 755 assists for 1033 points. He won the Stanley Cup in 2006 as a member of the Hurricanes and an Olympic Silver Medal in 2002 as a member of Team USA. Weight was always a solid forward throughout his career who saw the ice very well. He was an excellent passer and a proven leader on and off the ice. I wish him all the best in retirement.