Hurricanes sign Mathieu Roy

The Hurricanes have announced the signing of defenseman Mathieu Roy to a one-year, two-way deal.  The contract will pay him $600,000 in the NHL or $125,000 in the AHL, with a guarantee of at least $150,000.

Roy spent last season in the Tampa Bay Lightning system, playing four games with the Lightning and 51 games with the AHL Norfolk Admirals, including each game of a six-game loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the first round of the 2011 Calder Cup playoffs.  Roy has 13 points in 65 career NHL games with Tampa Bay, Columbus and Edmonton.

GM Jim Rutherford's comments seem to indicate that Roy will be spending most, if not all, of the season in Charlotte, and he would be subject to waivers were he to move between the Checkers and Hurricanes after the season begins.

The full release from the team is available after the jump.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sept. 14, 2011

HURRICANES SIGN DEFENSEMAN MATHIEU ROY

Depth signing has NHL experience with Edmonton, Columbus and Tampa Bay

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Mathieu Roy (MA-tyew WAH) to a one-year contract. The deal will pay Roy $600,000 on the NHL level or $125,000 on the American Hockey League (AHL) level, with a guarantee of at least $150,000.

"We wanted to add more depth to our defense," said Rutherford. "Mathieu is an experienced player who is capable of contributing at the NHL level or in the AHL with Charlotte."

Roy, 28, split last season between the NHL and AHL, skating in four NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played 45 games in the AHL with Norfolk, totaling four goals and 18 assists (22 points) and earning a plus-9 rating. The St-Martin de Beuace, Que., native also played in six Calder Cup playoff games for the Admirals, earning one assist.

Originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Roy (6’2", 210 lbs.) has skated in 65 career NHL games with Edmonton, Columbus and Tampa Bay, totaling 13 points (1g, 11a) and 76 penalty minutes. He has scored 20 goals and earned 97 assists (117 points) in 301 career AHL games. Roy’s career stats are below.

The Carolina Hurricanes will open their 2011 exhibition schedule on Sept. 19 at Buffalo. For information on 2011-12 Carolina Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.