Hurricanes sign Lucas Wallmark to three-year entry level contract

The Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday announced that they have signed Swedish forward Lucas Wallmark to a three-year entry level contract. Wallmark, the second of two consecutive picks in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Draft, will earn $65,000 in the AHL with a $225,000 signing bonus, and would earn the minimum salary in the NHL each of the next three years.

Wallmark's selection was overshadowed by the player drafted immediately before him, second-generation Hurricane Josh Wesley, but the Swede has put up solid statistics as one of the youngest players in the Swedish Hockey League over the past two years. As Kyle profiled yesterday, Wallmark could turn out to be a late-round gem for the Canes, posting 18 points in 50 games in Sweden last season while scoring at a point-per-game clip in two years' performances at the World Junior Hockey Championships.

Wallmark becomes the third signed prospect from the Canes' 2014 draft, joining first-round pick Haydn Fleury and second-rounder Alex Nedeljkovic. Defenseman Roland McKeown is also under contract, having signed with the Los Angeles Kings before his trade to Carolina in the Andrej Sekera deal.

The release from the team is below.

CANES SIGN FORWARD LUCAS WALLMARK

2014 NHL Draft selection spent last season in the Swedish Hockey League

Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed forward Lucas Wallmark to a three-year, entry-level contract. On the NHL level, the deal will pay Wallmark $575,000 in 2015-16, $600,000 in 2016-17 and $650,000 in 2017-18. Wallmark receives $65,000 per season on the American Hockey League (AHL) level and a signing bonus of $225,000.

"Lucas has good hockey sense and can contribute in all three zones in different situations," said Francis. "We are pleased that he has chosen to continue his professional development in our organization."

Wallmark, 19, totaled five goals and 13 assists (18 points) in 50 games with Lulea of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) in 2014-15, all of which were career bests in Sweden’s top league. The Umea, Sweden, native led Lulea in playoff scoring, registering five assists during the team’s first-round series loss to Frolunda. Wallmark (6’0", 176 lbs.) also represented Sweden at the 2015 World Junior Championship, ranking tied for first among Swedish skaters in goals (4) and plus/minus (+3), and totaling six points in seven games.

The Hurricanes selected Wallmark in the fourth round, 97th overall, of the 2014 NHL Draft. He has competed in eight major international tournaments for his home country, winning silver alongside current Hurricanes forward Elias Lindholm at the 2014 World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden.