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The Carolina Hurricanes have announced the re-signing of one of their key pieces on the back end, Jaccob Slavin, to a long-term deal. Slavin will earn $5.3 million annually starting in the 2018-19 season, as his entry-level deal still has one year left.
Slavin is coming off of a remarkable breakout year that saw him set career highs in points, goals, and assists, as well as earn two fifth-place votes for the Norris Trophy in just his second season. He and Brett Pesce provided an impressive shutdown pair, posting a combined +46 and solid CF/60 numbers (52.9 for Slavin, 54.0 for Pesce). Slavin also posted 161 blocked shots and ranked second among NHLers with 83 takeaways behind Ottawa’s Mark Stone, while putting up the sixth-fewest penalty minutes (12) among defensemen with 60+ games played. He also led the team in time-on-ice with 23:26 per game.
Keeping Slavin around for seven more years is great news for Canes management and fans alike, but also for Slavin himself. He and his wife Kylie (plus their two awesome dogs) have clearly set down roots in Raleigh, and a long-term deal provides welcome stability for both team and player.
The release from the team follows below.
‘CANES, SLAVIN AGREE ON SEVEN-YEAR EXTENSION
Defenseman posted career highs in goals, assists and points in 2016-17
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 Jaccob Slavin on a seven-year contract extension. The contract will begin during the 2018-19 season and carries an average annual value (AAV) of $5.3 million.
Slavin and Francis will be available to local media today at a news conference today at 1:30 p.m. in the Media Room on the Arena level of PNC Arena.
“Jaccob is one of the cornerstones of our team moving forward, and it was important to secure him with our organization long term,” said Francis. “We believe he is one of the top young defensemen in the NHL today, and are thrilled that he and his wife, Kylie, have made their home in Raleigh.”
Slavin, 23, posted career highs in points (34), goals (3), assists (29) and shorthanded points (4) during his first full NHL season in 2016-17. The Erie, CO, native led the Hurricanes in blocked shots (161), takeaways (83), time on ice per game (23:26) and shorthanded time on ice per game (3:07), and was tied for first in plus/minus with a plus-23 rating, the fourth-best plus/minus season in franchise history. Slavin ranked second in the NHL in takeaways, first among league defensemen in shorthanded points and tied for 10th among league blueliners in plus/minus.
Selected by the Hurricanes in the fourth round, 120th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft, Slavin (6’3”, 205 lbs.) has appeared in 145 career NHL games with the Hurricanes, totaling seven goals, 47 assists (54 points) and a plus-24 rating. Prior to turning professional, he spent two seasons at Colorado College of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), totaling 42 points (10g, 32a) in 66 career games. Slavin represented the United States at the 2014 World Junior Championship in Sweden.