The Checkers have regained a key piece of their blue line as the Carolina Hurricanes have assigned Trevor Carrick to Charlotte.

The second-year pro was recalled on Tuesday to replace Ron Hainsey, who missed the game due to illness. Carrick made his pro debut that night against the Washington Capitals, going scoreless in Carolina’s 2-1 overtime loss.

With Hanisey back in the Hurricanes lineup for tonight’s contest in Pittsburgh, Carrick will return to the Checkers, who are in the midst of a seven-game road trip. The blue liner will join the team for tomorrow’s tilt in Milwaukee, which kicks off a three-in-three weekend for Charlotte.

The addition of Carrick gives the Checkers back their highest-scoring defenseman, something that should help a squad that was blanked in Rockford on Tuesday without him. Carrick’s team-leading 21 power-play points could also provide a spark for the Checkers, as their second-ranked unit has gone just 2-for-35 over the last seven games.