June 07, 2012 1:50 PM
A strange offseason for the Checkers’ goaltending prospects has finally become a little bit clearer.
On Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes signed John Muse, who posted dominant numbers while pressed into a month-long stint as the Checkers’ primary backstop this past season, to his first NHL contract. Muse, a 23-year-old coming off his rookie season, was previously playing under an AHL deal that he signed with the Checkers as an undrafted free agent last summer.
In addition to the 10-3-2 record, 1.81 goals-against average, .941 save percentage and two shutouts he posted with the Checkers, Muse capped the season by winning the playoff MVP award as the Florida Everblades captured their first Kelly Cup championship in May. That title was the third in five years for Muse, who won two NCAA National Championships as a four-year starter with Boston College.
“John is a proven winner, having captured championships on both the collegiate and professional levels,” Ron Francis, the Hurricanes’ vice president of hockey operations, said in a team release. “He excelled in his first professional season with the Checkers and Everblades, and adds to our organization’s goaltending depth.”
Muse, who stopped 92 of the first 93 shots he faced as a Checker prior to being thrust into full-time duty in January, is the only one of Charlotte’s goalies under contract for next season. Justin Peters is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, while Mike Murphy, a restricted free agent, has elected to play next season in Russia. In addition, European-based Hurricanes prospect Frederik Andersen, previously a candidate to join the Checkers next season, did not sign with Carolina and will re-enter the NHL draft. |
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