With all the recent news about who won't be back in Raleigh next year, we now have one name who will indeed return to suit up for the Hurricanes next season.
Defenseman Jay Harrison agreed today to a two-year, $1.4 million deal with the Canes. First signed to a one-year deal in 2009, then a second last offseason, both of which paid him the league minimum, Harrison will earn a decently-sized raise to $650,000 in 2011-12 and $750,000 in 2012-13. Harrison's re-signing only leaves a few pieces of business remaining on the Canes' blue line for next season, with an expected deal to be negotiated later this summer with RFA Derek Joslin and whoever the Canes get to replace Joni Pitkanen, who is looking increasingly unlikely to sign with the Canes when he becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.
The release from the team is after the jump.
HURRICANES, HARRISON AGREE TO TWO-YEAR DEAL
Defenseman played in 72 games for Carolina in 2010-11
RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Jay Harrison on a two-year contract. The deal will pay Harrison $650,000 in 2011-12, and $750,000 in 2012-13.
"Jay took a big step in his pro career last year," said Rutherford. "He brings a physical and defensive element to our blue line, and we are happy to have him back."
Harrison, 28, established NHL career highs last season with 72 games played, three goals, seven assists, 10 points and 72 penalty minutes, while averaging 15:16 of ice time per game. The Oshawa, Ont., native finished 2010-11 with a plus-5 plus/minus rating to rank first among Hurricanes defensemen who played in more than half of the team’s games. In 130 career NHL games with Toronto and Carolina, Harrison (6’4", 211 lbs.) has scored four goals, earned 14 assists (18 points) and accumulated 140 penalty minutes. Originally drafted by Toronto in the third round, 82nd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Harrison signed with Carolina as a free agent on July 9, 2009.