Hurricanes open free agency by signing Stalberg, Stempniak
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Hurricanes opened free agency by adding two forwards on Friday.
The Hurricanes agreed to terms with Lee Stempniak on a two-year contract and with Viktor Stalberg on a one-year deal.
The 33-year-old Stempniak will receive $2.5 million this season and in 2017-18. He had 19 goals and 33 assists in 82 games with New Jersey and Boston last season, and has 184 goals during an 11-season NHL career that also includes stints in St. Louis, Toronto, Phoenix, Calgary, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers.
The 30-year-old Stalberg, who will make $1.5 million this season, had nine goals and 11 assists in 75 games with the Rangers last season. Francis called the 6-foot-3, 209-pound Stalberg ''another big strong player who can skate'' and says ''adding size to our forward corps was a priority this offseason.''
The Hurricanes also signed forward Andrew Miller to a two-way deal. Miller skated in 11 games last season with the Hurricanes' AHL affiliate in Charlotte. He's played 15 career NHL games, all with Edmonton.
