Jeff Skinner Re-signs with Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed Jeff Skinner to a six-year, $34.35 million contract extension.
Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford took to his Twitter to report the negotiations when they were happening:
August 7, 2012 6:40 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
Skinner had one year left on his three-year entry-level contract, which paid him $900,000 a year, so he’s just netted himself a huge raise. Carolina’s seventh overall selection in 2010, he made the leap directly to the NHL. Being taken seventh marked a big increase from where Central Scouting had him ranked heading into the 2010 draft: 47th in their midterm rankings and 34th in the final rankings.
His youth made him notable: he was the youngest player in the entire NHL for 2010-11. He also played in the 2011 All-Star Game, hosted in Raleigh, making him the youngest All-Star in history for any of the big four North American sports. His first month of NHL play was a big one, too–it began in Finland as part of the NHL Premiere series, and he registered his first goal, point and shootout goal before October 2010 was done. A January 2011 selection as Rookie of the Month was a premonition–six months later, he won the Calder Trophy. (He was also given the Rookie of the Year honors by Sporting News and The Hockey News.)
His 63-point rookie campaign (31 goals, 32 assists) was followed by 44 points (20-24) in his sophomore season, but his second year was shortened by a concussion.
This is just the latest in a series of big signings and re-signings the Hurricanes have accomplished this offseason. Jordan Staal and Alexander Semin both joined the team, Eric Staal and Cam Ward are already in long-term deals and Carolina still has about $13 million left in cap space, so this may not be their last move before training camp.
