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The Carolina Hurricanes brought back a familiar face as they announced the signing of defenseman, Tim Gleason, to a one-year deal on Thursday morning. Gleason was on the market after his contract was bought out by the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this week.
The former Carolina alternate captain, who had battled injuries much of the season, was traded to the Leafs last season for John-Michael Liles after he had been beaten out by Brett Bellemore for more playing time.
GM Ron Francis has completed what he told the media he wanted to do, sign two fourth-line type players and sign a depth defenseman. This probably means that the Canes are pretty much done, other than signing some RFA's and two-way deals for the Checkers.
The team's presser regarding Gleason follows:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 3, 2014
‘CANES AGREE TO TERMS WITH TIM GLEASON
Veteran defenseman returns to Carolina on one-year contract
RALEIGH, NC – Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Tim Gleason on a one-year contract. The deal will pay Gleason $1.2 million for the 2014-15 season.
"We obviously know well what Tim brings to our team on and off the ice and how he fits in our organization," said Francis. "We are happy that he is choosing to return to Raleigh."
Gleason, 31, split the 2013-14 season between Carolina and Toronto, totaling six points (1g, 5a) and 65 penalty minutes in 56 games. The Clawson, MI, native was traded to the Maple Leafs on Jan. 1 in exchange for John-Michael Liles and Dennis Robertson, after more than seven seasons with Carolina.
Selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Gleason (6’0", 217 lbs.) has tallied 16 goals and 117 assists (133 points) in 633 career NHL games with Los Angeles, Carolina and Toronto. He led all Hurricanes defensemen in hits in five of six seasons between 2008-08 and 2012-13, finishing second in that category in 2008-09. Since the team relocated to North Carolina, Gleason ranks third among Hurricanes defensemen in games played (491), fourth in assists (87) and sixth in points (100). He also ranks first among Carolina defensemen and second among all Hurricanes in penalty minutes (495) since the start of the 1997-98 season. Gleason served as an alternate captain for the Hurricanes from 2010-11 until his trade to Toronto on Jan. 1.