Carolina Hurricanes sign Callum Booth to three-year entry level deal

The Carolina Hurricanes are getting an early start on signing their prospects this year, agreeing to terms on Thursday with goaltender Callum Booth on a three-year entry level deal.

Booth, who turns 20 in May, was a fourth-round pick from the 2015 NHL Draft who was selected four spots ahead of fellow Canes QMJHL prospect Nicolas Roy. He spent three seasons with the Quebec Remparts before being traded in his fourth year to the Saint John Sea Dogs, where he plays behind Canes prospects Julien Gauthier and Spencer Smallman. He was recently named the Goaltender of the Week in the Canadian Hockey League, encompassing all players in the QMJHL, the OHL and the WHL, and was the Goaltender of the Month in the QMJHL in November.

He leads the Quebec league in wins with 31 and save percentage at .911, and is sixth with a 2.59 goals-against average. Booth will remain with Saint John through their run through the QMJHL playoffs and possibly toward a Memorial Cup run, and could join the Charlotte Checkers if they are still playing at the end of the Sea Dogs’ season.

The release from the team is below.

HURRICANES AGREE TO TERMS WITH CALLUM BOOTH
Netminder agrees to three-year, entry-level contract

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 goaltender Callum Booth on a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal will pay Booth $650,000 on the NHL level in the first and second years of the contract, and $700,000 in the third year. On the American Hockey League (AHL) level, he will be paid $65,000 in the first two years, and $67,500 in the third year. He receives a signing bonus of $225,000.

“Callum has continued to progress in his development and is one of the top goaltenders in the Quebec League,” said Francis. “He has an opportunity to play an important role in our organization’s future between the pipes.”

Booth, 19, currently ranks first in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in wins (31) and save percentage (.911, minimum 10 games) and sixth in goals-against average (2.59, minimum 10 games). He was acquired by Saint John from Quebec in December, and was named Goaltender of the Week for the entire Canadian Hockey League on Tuesday after posting a 2-0-0 record with a 1.00 goals-against average and .962 save percentage in two games for the Sea Dogs. He was the QMJHL’s Goaltender of the Month for November, after going 5-1-1 with a 2.77 goals-against average and .926 save percentage for Quebec.

A fourth-round selection, 93rd overall, in the 2015 NHL Draft, Booth (6’4”, 191 lbs.) is 81-58 with a 2.99 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 152 career QMJHL games for Quebec and Saint John. Saint John currently sits atop of the QMJHL standings, and Booth’s teammates with the Sea Dogs include fellow Hurricanes prospects Julien Gauthier and Spencer Smallman.