Hurricanes sign McKeown to one-year, two-way contract

Media day wasn’t the only thing making news for the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. About two hours after the festivities wrapped up at PNC Arena, the team announced that they have agreed to terms with defenseman Roland McKeown on a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 in the NHL or $70,000 in the AHL, with a guarantee of $90,000.

McKeown spent all of 2018-19 with the AHL Charlotte Checkers after making his NHL debut in ten games with Carolina the prior season. He will again be a restricted free agent after this season, although he will have hit the threshold required to earn arbitration rights in the 2020 offseason. McKeown is likely to again spend the majority of the season in the AHL, and is on the short list of possible candidates to replace the departed Patrick Brown as Checkers captain this season.

With McKeown’s signing, the Hurricanes only have one more player remaining unsigned, restricted free agent forward Saku Maenalanen, before training camp opens next Thursday at PNC Arena. The release from the team is below.

CANES RE-SIGN McKEOWN TO ONE-YEAR, TWO-WAY DEAL
Defenseman tallied 25 points in 70 AHL games last season

Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has re-signed defenseman Roland McKeown to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2019-20 season. The contract will pay McKeown $700,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the AHL level with a $90,000 guarantee.

“Roland is a reliable defenseman who is also able to contribute offensively,”said Waddell. “He was a big part of Charlotte’s success last season and we’re excited to bring him back.”

McKeown, 23, registered 25 points (4g, 21a) in 70 AHL games with the Checkers in 2018-19. The 6’1”, 195-pound defenseman led the team and finished tied for seventh in the AHL in plus/minus with a plus-30 rating. McKeown also added three assists in 10 AHL playoff games as Charlotte captured their first-ever Calder Cup Championship. He has posted 60 points (12g, 48a) in 210 career AHL games. McKeown made his NHL debut on Nov. 4, 2017 at Arizona and has tallied three assists in 10 career NHL games, all during Carolina’s 2017-18 season. The Listowel, Ont., native was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round, 50th overall, of the 2014 NHL Draft. He was acquired by the Hurricanes from the Kings along with a first-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft (Julien Gauthier) in exchange for Andrej Sekera on Feb. 25, 2015.