Hurricanes Sign Joakim Nordstrom For Two Years

The Carolina Hurricanes started taking care of their offseason business with a couple of signings on Friday.

First up, they re-signed forward Joakim Nordstrom to a two-year contract.  The deal will pay the Swede $1.25 million next season and $1.3 the next.   Last year he made a bit over $600,000.

Nordstrom earned the raise by setting career highs in games played, (71), goals, (10), and assists, (14).   He also chipped in on the penalty kill unit.  The winger performed very well matched up with Jordan Staal and Andrej Nestrasil, which was the best line on the team at times during the season.

The Canes also signed defenseman Jake Chelios to a one-year, two-way contract.  Chelios was the second leading scorer on the blueline in Charlotte, (behind Trevor Carrick) and led the Checkers in games played last season.

The press releases follow.  For more information go to CH.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 22, 2016

‘CANES SIGN NORDSTROM TO TWO-YEAR EXTENSION

Forward set career highs in goals, assists and points in 2015-16

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 forward Joakim Nordstrom on a two-year contract. The deal will pay Nordstrom $1.25 million during the 2016-17 season and $1.3 million in 2017-18. 

"Joakim took a major step forward in his career last season," said Francis. "We expect him to continue to grow as both a player and a leader on our team."

Nordstrom, 24, established NHL career highs in games played (71), goals (10), assists (14) and points (24) during the 2015-16 season with the Hurricanes. The Stockholm native was acquired by Carolina from Chicago on Sept. 11, 2015, along with Kris Versteeg and a third-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, in exchange for Dennis Robertson, Jake Massie and a fifth-round pick in 2017. Nordstrom ranked fourth among Hurricanes skaters in plus/minus (+1) in 2015-16, and was a key member of the team’s penalty kill, which ranked sixth in the league. 

Chicago’s third-round selection (90^th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Nordstrom (6’1", 189 lbs.) has totaled 30 points (11g, 19a) and 18 penalty minutes in 125 career regular-season games with Chicago and Carolina. He has appeared in 10 playoff games, and was a part of the Blackhawks’ 2015 Stanley Cup championship team.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 22, 2016

HURRICANES AGREE TO TERMS WITH JAKE CHELIOS

Led Checkers in games played in 2015-16 and ranked second in blueline scoring

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 Jake Chelios on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Chelios $575,000 at the NHL level, or $70,000 on the American Hockey League (AHL) level in 2016-17.

"Jake was a steady presence for Charlotte last season in his first full season playing defense," said Francis. "He showed that he can contribute offensively and, at 25, he fits in well with our organization’s young defensemen."

Chelios, 25, led the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, in games played in 2015-16, skating in 73 of the team’s 76 games. He ranked second among team defensemen in assists (24) and points (31), and tied for second among Checkers blueliners in goals (7). In 118 career AHL regular-season games, Chelios has scored eight goals and earned 39 assists (47 points) with Charlotte and the Chicago Wolves.

The 2015-16 season marked the second full professional campaign for Chelios (6’2", 185 lbs.) after splitting 2014-15 between the Toledo Walleye (ECHL) and Chicago (AHL). Prior to turning professional, the Chicago native played four seasons at Michigan State University, earning 54 points (17g, 37a) in 154 career games with the Spartans, including 21 points (2g, 19a) to lead team defensemen in his senior season. Chelios is the son of Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman and current Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Chris Chelios. Jake Chelios’ career statistics are below.

For information about Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com/tickets, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES (1-866-645-2263).

JAKE CHELIOS’ CAREER STATISTICS

REGULAR SEASON                         PLAYOFFS

YEAR      TEAM                           LEAGUE        GP      G       A     PTS     PIM            GP      G       A     PTS     PIM

2009-10   Chicago                       USHL              52      12      22      34        45               -         -         -         -           -

2010-11   Michigan State             CCHA              37       8        6       14        34               -         -         -         -           -

2011-12   Michigan State             CCHA              39       2        7        9         44               -         -         -         -           -

2012-13   Michigan State             CCHA              42       5        5       10        79               -         -         -         -           -

2013-14   Michgan State              BIG 10             36       2       19      21        38               -         -         -         -           -

Toledo                         ECHL               7        1        1        2          2                -         -         -         -           -

Chicago                       AHL                  4        0        1        1          4                -         -         -         -           -

2014-15   Chicago                       AHL                 41       1       14      15        32               -         -         -         -           -

Kalamazoo                   ECHL               8        1        2        3          2                -         -         -         -           -

2015-16   Charlotte                      AHL                 73       7       24      31        44               -         -         -         -           -

AHL TOTALS (3 seasons)                       118      8       39      47        80