Canes re-sign Jay Harrison, Zach Boychuk, and Drayson Bowman

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Jay Harrison

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Jay Harrison to a three-year contract extension. The deal will pay Harrison $1.5 million per season beginning in 2013-14.

“Jay has developed into a consistent, steadying presence for our defense,” said Rutherford. “He is capable of providing both physicality and offense, and we are happy to now have him under contract for the next four seasons.”

Harrison, 29, ranked first among Hurricanes defensemen in goals (9) in 2011-12, establishing career highs in goals (9), assists (14) and points (23) in 72 games played. The Oshawa, Ont., native ranked second on the team in blocked shots (132) and was the team’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, which honors sportsmanship, perseverance and dedication to the game of hockey. He was also selected by the Carolina chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association as the winner of the Josef Vasicek Award (formerly “Good Guy Award”) for media cooperation.

Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round, 82nd overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Harrison has totaled 13 goals, 28 assists (41 points) and 200 penalty minutes in 202 career NHL games with Toronto and Carolina. The Hurricanes originally signed Harrison as a free agent on July 9, 2009, and he has earned 39 points (13g, 26a) in 182 games with Carolina.

Zach Boychuk

RALEIGH, NC – Jason Karmanos, Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team signed forward Zach Boychuk (BOY-chuhk) to a one-year contract. The deal will pay Boychuk $625,000 on the NHL level or $105,000 on the American Hockey League (AHL) level in 2012-13.

Boychuk, 22, split the 2011-12 season between Carolina and the team’s AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers. The Airdrie, Alb., native earned two assists in 16 NHL games, averaging 8:55 in ice time per game. Boychuk (5’10”, 185 lbs.) led the Checkers with 21 goals, and ranked third among Charlotte skaters with 44 points in 64 AHL games.

Selected by the Hurricanes in the first round, 14th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Boychuk has scored seven goals and earned 11 assists in 72 career NHL games. He has totaled 58 goals and 88 assists (146 points) in 178 career AHL games with Albany and Charlotte. Prior to turning professional, Boychuk skated in 237 regular-season games over four seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League, totaling 110 goals and 161 assists (271 points). He captured gold medals with Canada at the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Championships, serving as an alternate captain during the 2009 World Juniors.

Drayson Bowman

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed left wing Drayson Bowman to a two-year contract. The deal will pay Bowman $600,000 on the NHL level or $105,000 on the American Hockey League (AHL) level in 2012-13. He will be paid $600,000 in 2013-14.

Bowman, 23, split the 2011-12 season between Carolina and the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers. With the Hurricanes, Bowman (6’1”, 190 lbs.) established NHL career highs in goals (6), assists (7), points (13) and games played (37), earning the majority of his NHL playing time in the second half of the season. He added 13 goals and 13 assists (26 points) in 42 games with Charlotte.

Drafted by Carolina in the third round, 72nd overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Bowman has scored eight goals and earned eight assists (16 points) in 69 career NHL games with the Hurricanes. He has appeared in 149 career AHL games with Albany and Charlotte, totaling 42 goals and 46 assists (88 points). Bowman, who was born in Grand Rapids, MI, but raised in Littleton, CO, played junior hockey for Spokane of the Western Hockey League (WHL) prior to turning professional, notching 242 points (130g, 112a) in 265 games and helping the Chiefs capture the 2008 Memorial Cup championship.

[KillerKat]

Always liked Boychuk and thought he should stick with the team instead of being called down every time.