RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenceman Tim Gleason to a US$16-million, four-year contract extension.
“He is one of our core players, someone who brings character and leadership to our locker-room, along with being a key piece on the ice,” Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said Monday in a statement. “This is a very important signing for our team going forward.”
Gleason will receive $3.5 million next season, $4.5 million in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and $3.5 million in 2015-16.
He is making $3.5 million this season.
Gleason is in his eighth NHL season and sixth with the Hurricanes. He has one goal and 13 assists in 51 games this season and leads all Carolina defencemen in hits, plus/minus and minutes played.
In 526 career NHL games with Los Angeles and Carolina, the 28-year-old native of Clawson, Mich., has 15 goals, 99 assists and 514 penalty minutes.
Gleason was selected 23rd overall by the Ottawa Senators at the 2001 draft.
