The Carolina Hurricanes got their fourth-line center early in free agency Friday, signing former Toronto Maple Leaf Tim Brent to a two-year deal worth a total of $1.5 million. Brent will earn $700,000 this coming season and $800,000 in 2012-13.
Brent, 27, played 78 games for Toronto last season, registering eight goals and 12 assists while winning 52 percent of his faceoffs. Brent was one of the Maple Leafs' top penalty-killing forwards in 2010-11, leading all of the team's full-time forwards in shorthanded ice time with 1:58 a game. Toronto's PK unit was ranked 28th in the NHL last season.
It was Brent's first full season in the NHL. Brent will join his fifth NHL team, having played in the NHL with Toronto, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Anaheim since 2006.
The following is from the Canes' press release:
HURRICANES AGREE TO TERMS WITH TIM BRENT
Center had 20 points with Toronto in 2010-11; Agrees to two-year deal
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 center Tim Brent. The two-year deal will pay Brent $700,000 in 2011-12, and $800,000 in 2012-13.
“Tim gives us the depth we need at the center position,” said Rutherford. “He is a strong faceoff man and penalty killer, and he can also play the point on the power play.”
Brent, 27, played in 79 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2010-11, notching eight goals and earning 12 assists (20 points), while averaging 11:39 of ice time per game. The Cambridge, Ont., native ranked second among Maple Leafs in winning 52.0 percent of his faceoffs, and led Toronto forwards in average shorthanded time on ice per game (1:58) and blocked shots (58). He led the Maple Leafs with two shorthanded points (1g, 1a), was fourth among team forwards with 104 hits and collected four power-play assists.
Brent (6’0”, 188 lbs.) was originally drafted by Anaheim in the second round, 37th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, but re-entered the draft in 2004 after failing to come to terms on a contract. Anaheim then drafted him in the third round, 75th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He has scored nine goals, earned 12 assists (21 points) and accumulated 41 penalty minutes in 98 career NHL games with Anaheim, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Toronto. His career statistics 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.
TIM BRENT’S CAREER STATISTICS
YEAR TEAM LGE GP G A PTS PIM GP G A PTS PIM
2000-01 St. Michael’s OHL 64 9 19 28 31 18 2 8 10 6
2001-02 St. Michael’s OHL 61 19 40 59 52 14 7 12 19 20
2002-03 St. Michael’s OHL 60 24 42 66 74 19 7 17 24 14
2003-04 St. Michael’s OHL 53 26 41 67 105 18 4 13 17 24
2004-05 Cincinnati AHL 46 5 13 18 42 12 0 1 1 6
2005-06 Portland AHL 37 15 9 24 32 15 4 4 8 16
2006-07 Anaheim NHL 15 1 0 1 6 - - - - -
Portland AHL 48 16 14 30 40 - - - - -
2007-08 Pittsburgh NHL
Wilkes-Barre AHL 74 18 43 61 79 23 12 15 27 10
2008-09 Chicago NHL
Rockford AHL 64 20 42 62 59 4 0 1 1 2
2009-10 Toronto NHL
Toronto AHL 33 13 15 28 19 - - - - -
2010-11 Toronto NHL 79 8 12 20 33 - - - - -
NHL Totals (5 Seasons)