Friday, July 4, 2014

Checkers updates: Canes sign four of six Checkers RFAs

It’s been a busy week for the Carolina Hurricanes who have now resigned four of the Charlotte Checkers six restricted free agents.

Here’s a quick recap of what’s gone on.

June 24 – Hurricanes agree to terms with left wing Chris Terry on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Terry $600,000 on the NHL level or $300,000 on the American Hockey League level in 2014-15.

July 1 – Hurricanes agree to terms with goaltender Drew MacIntyre on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay MacIntyre $600,000 in the NHL or $250,000 in the AHL for the 2014-15 season, with a guarantee of at least $300,000.

Former Checkers captain, Brett Sutter signes a two-year, two-way deal with the Minnesota Wild.

July 2 -- Hurricanes sign forward Greg Nemisz to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Nemisz $600,000 in the NHL or $100,000 in the AHL for the 2014-15 season, with a guarantee of at least $125,000.

Hurricanes agree to terms with forward Zach Boychuk on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Boychuk $600,000 at the NHL level, or $200,000 on the AHL level, with a guarantee of $275,000.

July 3 -- Hurricanes agree to terms with right wing Jared Staal on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Staal $550,000 on the NHL level, or $65,000 on the AHL level, during the 2014-15 season.

Hurricanes agree to terms with defenseman Michal Jordan on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Jordan $550,000 on the NHL level, or $200,000 on the AHL level, with a guarantee of $225,000.

Hurricane agree to terms with center Ben Holmstrom on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Holmstrom $600,000 in the NHL or $200,000 in the AHL for the 2014-15 season.

*Only restricted free agents Justin Shugg and Rasmus Rissanen remain unsigned at the moment.

More on the two new guys:

Holmstrom, 27, is a native of Colorado Springs, Colorado and spent his first five professional seasons in the Philadelphia Flyers organization. He was captain of the Adirondack Phantoms for the last three and could take over that role with the Checkers given Sutter’s exit. Holmstrom has 122 points (49g, 73a) and 393 penalty minutes in 256 career AHL games. 

MacIntyre, 31, is a two-time AHL All-Star and has played in 329 games. He went 29-15-3 with a 2.53 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and one shutout for the Marlies last season, ranking second among AHL goaltenders in victories. With Just Peters heading to Washington, MacIntyre looks primed to start the year as the Checkers No. 1 goaltender.

*Charlotte should be happy to have the veteran in red and white this season, last year, he went 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .942 save percentage against the Checkers.