Hurricanes Sign Defenseman Fitzgerald to One-Year Contract

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have signed defenseman Zack Fitzgerald to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 77 games last season with Albany of the AHL, he had two goals and 12 assists for 14 points and 311 penalty minutes. He last appeared in the NHL during the 2007-08 season with the Vancouver Canucks, scoring no points in one game. This is really just a depth signing for the Hurricanes, as Fitzgerald is likely to spend most of next season, if not all, in the minors. He has great size and is a very physical player on the ice, but lacks the talent to play regular minutes at the NHL level. Look for him to play another physical season with Albany in 2010-11.

Hurricanes Add Defensemen Alberts & Fitzgerald, Re-Sign Angelidis

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed defensemen Andrew Alberts to a two-year contract worth $2.1 million and Zach Fitzgerald to a one-year, two-way contract. The team also announced the re-signing left wing Mike Angelidis to a one-year, two-way contract. Alberts’ deal averages out to $1.05 million per season, while financial terms of Fitzgerald’s and Angelidis’ contracts were not disclosed. Alberts was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers last October by the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ned Lukacevic and a conditional 2009 draft pick. In 79 games last season with the Flyers, Alberts scored one goal and 12 assists for 13 points and 61 penalty minutes. In 263 career games, he has two goals and 30 assists for 32 points and 292 penalty minutes. Fitzgerald appeared in 56 games last season for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, scoring eight assists ad 208 penalty minutes. He played in one NHL game for the Vancouver Canucks in 2007-08, scoring no points. Angelidis played in 67 games last season for the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate in Albany, scoring 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points and 142 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

The Alberts signing is not a bad one for the Hurricanes, as he brings plenty of toughness and grit to their defense. He will likely be a sixth of seventh defenseman for the team next season. Fitzgerald and Angelidis are nothing more than depth signings for the team. They will likely spend all of next season in the minors, where they will provide plenty of toughness at their respected positions for Albany of the AHL.