Hurricanes agree to terms with Phil Di Giuseppe, assign to Charlotte

Per team release...

2012 Draft selection completed his junior season at Michigan in 2013-14

RALEIGH, NC – Ron Francis, Vice President of Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with left wing Phil Di Giuseppe on a three-year, entry-level contract. On the NHL level, the deal will pay Di Giuseppe $675,000 in 2014-15, $725,000 in 2015-16 and $775,000 in 2016-17. He will earn $70,000 per year on the American Hockey League level and the deal includes a signing bonus of $277,500.

“We’re pleased that Phil has chosen to begin his professional hockey career,” said Francis. “He’s got good size, and adds to our organization’s depth at forward.”

Di Giuseppe, 20, ranked 22nd in the Big Ten in scoring in 2013-14, totaling 13 goals and 11 assists (24 points) in 35 games for the University of Michigan. He netted game-winning goals for the Wolverines vs. Michigan State on Jan. 23, Penn State on Feb. 22 and at Ohio State on March 2. The Maple, Ont., native scored a goal to force overtime in Michigan’s Big Ten Tournament opener against Penn State, before the Wolverines fell to the Nittany Lions in double overtime to end their 2013-14 campaign.

Selected by the Hurricanes in the second round, 38th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft, Di Giuseppe completed his college career with 33 goals, 45 assists (78 points) and 79 penalty minutes in 116 career games for Michigan.

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According to Checkers team writer, Paul Branecky, Di Giuseppe is expected to join the Checkers this week. He'll join former Brown defenseman Dennis Robertson, as the second college player to sign with the Hurricanes and be assigned to Charlotte this month. 

The Hurricanes chose Di Giuseppe with their top draft choice in the 2012 NHL Draft, after trading their first-round pick as part of the deal that landed center Jordan Staal from Pittsburgh.

With forward Greg Nemisz, Aaron Palushaj, and Brendan Woods all missing Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Iowa Wild, the Checkers used Matthew Pistilli to fill their lineup. Pistilli was recently signed to a PTO from the Florida Everblades, Carolina's ECHL affiliate.