Hurricanes sign C.J. Smith

The Hurricanes added some organizational depth up front as the opening day of free agency continued, signing forward C.J. Smith to a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $750,000 at the NHL level or $250,000 at the AHL level, with a $300,000 guarantee.

Smith has played 14 career NHL games, all with the Buffalo Sabres, and will likely provide a veteran option for the Chicago Wolves.

‘CANES AGREE TO TERMS WITH C.J. SMITH

Forward has played 14 career NHL games

RALEIGH, N.C. – Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed forward C.J. Smith to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Smith $750,000 at the NHL level and $250,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with a $300,000 guarantee.

“C.J. is a winger who has put up strong numbers at the AHL level,” said Waddell. “This signing adds depth to our forward group.”

Smith, 26, has played 14 career NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres, posting three points (2g, 1a). The 5’11”, 183-pound forward has registered 13 points (4g, 9a) in 15 AHL games with Rochester in 2020-21 and has recorded 142 points (61g, 81a) in 184 career AHL games with the Americans. Prior to turning professional, Smith skated in 120 NCAA games with UMass-Lowell from 2014-17, earning 125 points (56g, 69a). The Des Moines, Iowa, native also tallied 45 points (27g, 18a) in 59 USHL games with Muskegon and Chicago in 2013-14.