July 24, 2012 8:47 AM
Zach Boychuk signed a new one-year contract with the Hurricanes on Tuesday, completing the team’s list of restricted free agents.
Boychuk was one of five forwards from last season’s Checkers team that fell into that category, all of which signed new deals in recent days (Drayson Bowman, Jerome Samson and Chris Terry) or chose to play overseas (Evgenii Dadonov). The signing keeps the bulk of that group intact for next season, which could potentially continue stability from last season’s team provided the majority end up with the Checkers as opposed to the Hurricanes or another organization via a waiver claim.
The Hurricanes’ first-round pick in 2008 (14th overall), Boychuk, 22, led the Checkers with 21 goals and ranked third on the team in points (44) and assists (23) in his third professional season. The team’s all-time leader in power-play goals had a team-high five multi-goal games last season while playing a career high 64 contests at the AHL level.
Though he split each of his first three campaigns between Carolina and its top minor-league affiliate, Boychuk has played close to one full season at the NHL level (72 games), scoring 18 points (7g, 11a).
Like most of the players who re-signed before him, Boychuk's deal is a two-way contract. Bowman, who signed one day earlier, was the only skater to earn a partial one-way deal that will guarantee him his full NHL salary in the second of two years.
Boychuk’s signing could complete the organization’s offseason activity in terms of bringing back players from last season, though a large group of unrestricted free agents that includes Chris Durno, Cedric McNicoll, Matthew Pistilli and Justin Soryal is still on the open market.
Click here for a complete list of the organization’s summer movement. |
|
|
|
