Hurricanes Sign Patrick Dwyer To Two-Year Extension

The Carolina Hurricanes locked up a key role player Wednesday, signing right wing Patrick Dwyer to a two-year extension that will keep him in Raleigh through the 2014-15 season. The contract will pay him $900,000 each season, a $250,000 raise over what he is set to make in 2012-13 in the second year of a two-year deal that paid him $600,000 last season and $650,000 this coming campaign.

Dwyer has proven to be a reliable role player for the Hurricanes, providing bottom six energy and penalty killing to carve out a full-time roster spot with the Hurricanes. A 2002 fourth-round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers, Dwyer joined the Hurricanes organization in 2006-07 and has played 224 career NHL games with the team, scoring 21 goals and adding 22 assists.

Only Brandon Sutter — who was traded to Pittsburgh this offseason in the deal that landed Carolina Jordan Staal — had more shorthanded ice time than Dwyer among Hurricanes forwards last season. Dwyer, 29, was also third on the team in hits (129) and second among forwards in blocked shots (62, T-22nd in the NHL).

The release from the team is after the jump.

‘CANES SIGN DWYER TO TWO-YEAR EXTENSION

Forward ranked tied for third on the team in hits last season

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed forward Patrick Dwyer to a two-year contract extension. The deal will pay Dwyer $900,000 per season during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns.

"Patrick has been an excellent fit for our organization, and plays an important role for our team," said Rutherford. "He is one of our top penalty killers and provides speed for our forward lines."

Dwyer, 29, completed his fourth NHL season in 2011-12, totaling five goals and seven assists (12 points) in 73 games played. The Spokane, WA, native ranked tied for third among Hurricanes in hits (129) and second among team forwards in blocked shots (62). After the season, Dwyer represented the United States at the 2012 IIHF World Championship in Sweden and Finland, totaling three points (1g, 2a) in eight games.

Originally drafted by Atlanta in 2002, Dwyer (5’11", 175) signed with the Hurricanes as a free agent on July 7, 2006. He made his NHL debut with Carolina on Nov. 2, 2008, and posted career highs in games played (80), goals (8), assists (10) and points (18) during the 2010-11 season. Dwyer has totaled 21 goals, 22 assists (43 points) and 41 penalty minutes in 224 career regular-season NHL games and earned one assist in two career Stanley Cup playoff games.