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The Charlotte Checkers reported this afternoon that they have signed former Carolina Hurricanes forward, Chad LaRose, to a one-year AHL contract. LaRose did not play professionally last season after a disappointing campaign in 2012-13.
Checkers Coach Jeff Daniels was very pleased with the signing. The following is from Go Checkers.com.
"For us, he’ll be a top player," Checkers coach Jeff Daniels told CarolinaHurricanes.com. "He’s a guy that has scored at the NHL level.
"I think we’re getting a hungry player. We’ve got a guy who’s going to play with a purpose and show not only Carolina, but all of the NHL, that he’s still a young guy and still has a lot of hockey left in him. He’s going to need to prove that he still has it, and I’m sure it will take some time to get the timing in game situations back, but he’s a guy that competes. He’s hungry, and he wants to get back to the next level."
For those of you wondering about a recall to the Canes, LaRose would have to sign an NHL contract before he could play for Carolina. But these things can be worked out quickly, if he earns it.
The Checkers presser follows:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JULY 29, 2014
CHECKERS SIGN CHAD LAROSE TO AHL DEAL
Longtime Carolina Hurricanes forward did not play last season
The Charlotte Checkers announced today that they have signed former Carolina Hurricanes forward Chad LaRose to an AHL deal.
LaRose, 32, has played 508 career NHL games, all with the Hurricanes between 2005-2013, scoring 180 points (85g, 95a). A member of Carolina’s 2006 Stanley Cup championship team in his first NHL season, he did not play last season after scoring four points in 35 games during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign.
An undrafted native of Fraser, MI, LaRose scored 83 points (41g, 42a) in 125 career AHL games, including 25 points in 23 games with Lowell in the initial portion of the 2005-06 season preceding his recall to Carolina.
More information on the signing, including quotes from Checkers coach Jeff Daniels, can be found here.