Last Updated on July 1, 2012 7:42 pm by admin
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The Carolina Hurricanes have signed new center Jordan Staal to a 10-year contract extension.
The Hurricanes marked the start of the free agency period Sunday by announcing a long-term deal for the star player they acquired from Pittsburgh in a draft-day trade just over a week ago.
The team also brought back defenseman Joe Corvo and re-signed goalie Justin Peters and Brett Sutter to two-way deals, but by far the biggest news of the day was the Staal signing.
He will make $6 million per year under the deal, which begins with the 2013-14 season. He is due to make $4.5 million this season.
Staal has said he turned down a 10-year deal two weeks ago to stay in Pittsburgh, and that decision precipitated the trade to Carolina in exchange for center Brandon Sutter, defensive prospect Brian Dumoulin and the No. 8 pick in the draft.
General manager Jim Rutherford says Staal – the younger brother of team captain Eric Staal – “represents a cornerstone of our franchise for the long term.”
The 23-year-old Staal had career highs with 25 assists and 50 points last season with the Penguins. He was coveted by the Hurricanes, who wanted to add a top-shelf forward to play alongside the older Staal.
Both Staals are natural centers, but coach Kirk Muller said earlier this week that he would experiment during preseason camp with having both of them on the ice at the same time.
The 35-year-old Corvo is joining the Hurricanes for the third time. He was initially acquired in a 2008 trade with Ottawa, and he was dealt to Washington at the 2010 trading deadline – only to return that summer. He signed a free-agent deal last year with Boston and had four goals, 21 assists and a plus-10 rating with the Bruins.
Peters agreed to a two-year deal that will pay him $525,000 in the NHL or $105,000 if he is sent to the club’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte, with a guarantee of at least $250,000 in 2012-13. He will make $550,000 next year. Peters’ signing is significant because Brian Boucher, the veteran backup to Cam Ward, will miss 4-6 months with an unspecified shoulder injury.
Brett Sutter, the 25-year-old cousin of Brandon Sutter, agreed to a one-year contract. He will make $550,000 in the NHL or $105,000 if he is sent to Charlotte, with a guarantee of at least $150,000. He spent most of last season in Charlotte but had three assists in 15 games with the Hurricanes.