Breaking: Young NHL star signs huge seven year deal

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they’ve re-signed 23 year-old defenseman Jaccob Slavin to a seven year, $37.1 million contract extension. The new deal will start during the 2018-19 season and comes with an annual cap hit of $5.3 million.

Wow, that’s a lot of dough for a relatively unproven player. On the other hand, Slavin’s play and production is trending upwards, so maybe $5.3 million will look like a bargain in the near future?

In 82 games with the Hurricanes last season Slavin managed five goals and 34 points, 14 better than his rookie campaign from a year prior. Selected by the Hurricanes in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, the 6’3”, 205 lb defender has burst onto the scene for the Hurricanes leaping ahead of higher ranked prospects to become a mainstay in the team’s top four defence core. 

With Slavin and fellow defender Justin Faulk both inked for the next few seasons, GM Ron Francis can now turn his focus to 20 year old Noah Hanifin on a potential extension, thereby solidifying one of the youngest and brightest defense corps in the NHL.