Hurricanes Add Depth, Sign T.J. Hensick

The Carolina Hurricanes lightly dipped their toe in the free agent waters Wednesday afternoon, signing 29-year-old winger T.J. Hensick to a one-year, two-way contract. He will earn $600,000 in the NHL and $250,000 in the AHL.

Hensick led the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs in scoring last season with 60 points (19 goals, 41 assists), but also has 112 games of NHL experience in his career. The Michigan native was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in 2007 when he was a senior with the Michigan Wolverines. He was drafted by Colorado in the third round of the 2005 NHL Draft and played in the NHL briefly with both the Avalanche and Blues.

Here is the release from the team:

HURRICANES SIGN FORWARD T.J. HENSICK
Winger led Hamilton Bulldogs in scoring in 2014-15

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 right wing T.J. Hensick to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Hensick $600,000 in the NHL or $250,000 in the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2015-16.

"T.J. is a good playmaking forward who adds depth to our organization," said Francis.

Hensick, 29, led the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs in scoring in 2014-15, totaling 19 goals and 41 assists (60 points) in 75 games played. The Howell, MI, native also led Hamilton in assists (41) and notched 12 multi-point efforts for the Bulldogs. Hensick (5’9", 170 lbs.) was originally selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round, 88th overall, of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in 112 career NHL games with Colorado and St. Louis, tallying 12 goals and 26 assists (38 points). He also appeared in two Stanley Cup playoff games for the Avalanche in 2008, earning one assist.