Josef Melichar Signed for One Year

by Bob Wage on Jul 2, 2008 11:51 AM EDT

The Carolina Hurricanes blueline continued to get bigger as they signed defenseman Josef Melichar to a one year deal worth 1 million USD. The 29 year-old is known as a "defense first" defenseman and is listed at 6'2, 220.

Josef is a big, strong, and experienced defensive defenseman who will be a shut-down player for us," said Carolina GM, Jim Rutherford.

The bruiser has played 310 NHL games so far in his career, all with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last year he played in the Swedish Elite League.

It would seem that this might mark the end of Dennis Seidenberg's Hurricanes career. Rutherford also alluded to trading another defenseman, to make room in the Hurricanes budget for Pitkanen.

The blueliners currently under contract are-

Joe Corvo

Frank Kaberle

Nic Wallin

Anton Babchuk

Josef Melichar

Tim Gleason

Casey Borer (2 way deal)

Tim Conboy (2 way deal)

Joni Pitkanen and Dennis Seidenberg are restricted free agents who are still unsigned.

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Not anymore. Pitkanen signed 3 year deal. WOOHOO!

by canesrdabest on Jul 2, 2008 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

what d is left besides blake

by canescup on Jul 2, 2008 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

The deal will pay Pitkanen $3.5 million in 2008-09, $4 million in 2009-10 and $4.5 million in 2010-11.

by Benjamin repenttokyo on Jul 2, 2008 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks guys, not a bad signing I don’t think

by Bubba on Jul 2, 2008 12:10 PM EDT reply actions

We certainly are a European group on d…no Canadians at all…

by Sunny on Jul 2, 2008 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

here is a link to check out melichar’s stats last year

http://www.hockeyligan.se/index.php?stats=listplayers&orderby=toi&season=2007&teamid=LHC&lang=en

by chris on Jul 2, 2008 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

Please ship out Frankie for anything and sign Bergs for $800,000. We don’t need Kabs anymore and Bergs is a nice heavy hitter.

by cman on Jul 2, 2008 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

Sure would hate to see Seidenberg go. Seems like
we could move Kaberle or Wallin first (provided
you can find a team willing to deal with their
contract). Melichar is a big hitter with all the mobility of a manhole. If Lavy thought we had coverage problems last year, woo hoo wait for this!

by John S on Jul 2, 2008 9:18 PM EDT reply actions