/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6359616/20120405_tjg_sv7_208.jpg)
The Carolina Hurricanes could have signed one of the best defensive prospects in the history of the franchise today with the signing of Boston College defenseman Brian Dumoulin. The blueliner just helped his college team win the National Championship and had the second best plus/minus in the country at (+27).
Dumoulin will report to Charlotte and will join the Checkers as soon as possible. The team's press release is after the jump.
CANES SIGN BRIAN DUMOULIN TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT
Two-time All-American defenseman won two national championships with Boston College
RALEIGH, NC – Ron Francis, Director of Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Brian Dumoulin (DOO-moh-lihn) to a three-year, entry-level contract. At the NHL Level, Dumoulin will receive $700,000 in 2012-13, $725,000 in 2013-14 and $800,000 in 2014-15. At the AHL level, he would be paid $67,500 in all three years. Dumoulin receives a signing bonus of $270,000, and will immediately join the Hurricanes’ top minor-league affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL).
"Brian is a big, puck-moving defenseman who achieved at a high level throughout his time at Boston College," said Francis. "His success there speaks for itself, and it is important for his continued development that he now begins his professional career."
Dumoulin, 20, led Boston College defensemen in scoring in 2011-12 with seven goals and 21 assists (28 points) in 44 games, and ranked first among all Eagles skaters and second in the NCAA in plus/minus (+27). The Biddeford, ME, native led all Hockey East defensemen in league scoring, notching 21 points in 27 conference games and capturing the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman award for the second consecutive season. Dumoulin (6’4", 210 lbs.) was also recognized as an All-College HockeyNews.com First Team selection, a Hobey Baker Award (top collegiate player) finalist, an All-Hockey East First Team selection and the winner of the Bob Monahan Award as the Best Defenseman in New England. He helped Boston College capture the Hockey East championship for the third consecutive year, and led the Eagles to the NCAA national championship for the second time during his three seasons with the team.
Dumoulin completes his three-year collegiate career at Boston College with 11 goals, 72 assists (83 points) and 48 penalty minutes in 123 games, and a two-time selection to the AHCA All-America East First Team (2011, 2012). He had a plus-90 plus/minus rating during his career, ranking first in the country with a plus-40 during his freshman year, when the Eagles captured the 2010 national championship. Dumoulin represented the United States at the 2011 World Junior Championship in Buffalo, leading American defensemen in plus/minus (+4) as the U.S. captured the bronze medal. Prior to beginning his collegiate career, he played for the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL), earning that league’s Defensive Player of the Year award and helping the Junior Monarchs capture the regular-season championship in 2008-09. One of the youngest players in his draft class, turning 18 only nine days before the cutoff, Dumoulin was the Hurricanes’ second pick, 51st overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
For information on Carolina Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.