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Hurricanes sign Erik Karlsson to 3-year entry level deal

The sixth player from the Canes' 2012 draft to sign with the team did so today on a three-year deal.

By Brian LeBlanc
Jamie Kellner

No, not that one. (Get used to saying that.)

The Hurricanes on Tuesday signed left wing Erik Karlsson to a three year deal, becoming the sixth player from the 2012 draft to sign an entry-level contract with the team. Karlsson, 19, was a member of the host Swedish junior team that won silver in the 2014 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, alongside now-teammate Elias Lindholm. His first year in Sweden's top league was rather unimpressive, tallying six points in 41 games at the senior level, although he did find success at the lower levels and with the Swedish junior team.

Karlsson will again appear at the Canes' post-draft prospect camp, and will likely earn a training camp spot but he is eligible to play with the Charlotte Checkers next season, which is where he is expected to end up to start the year. The press release from the team follows.

HURRICANES SIGN KARLSSON TO ENTRY-LEVEL DEAL

Winger teamed with Lindholm on silver-medal-winning Swedish WJC squad

RALEIGH, NC – Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed left wing Erik Karlsson to a three-year, entry level contract. On the NHL level, Karlsson will be paid $550,000 in the first year, $600,000 in the second year and $650,000 in the third year. He will receive $60,000 in the American Hockey League (AHL) in year one, and $65,000 in years two and three. Karlsson also receives a signing bonus of $185,000.

"Erik played well at the World Juniors, and has shown improvement each year since he was drafted,"said Francis. "He has good speed and adds to our team’s organizational depth at forward."

Karlsson, 19, spent most of the 2013-14 season with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), totaling five goals and one assist (6 points) in 41 games. The Lerum, Sweden, native added one goal in six playoff games, as the Indians fell to Linkopings in the SHL quarterfinals. Karlsson (6’0", 180 lbs.) also totaled 15 points (5g, 10a) in 9 games with Frolunda Jr., and represented Sweden at the 2014 World Junior Championships, totaling three assists and a plus-1 rating in seven games as host Sweden captured the silver medal. He was selected by the Hurricanes in the fourth round, 99thoverall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.