Canes sign Gleason
After two months of convoluted negotiations, the Hurricanes have agreed to terms with Tim Gleason on a four-year contract worth $11.5 million. The restricted free agent defenseman will earn $2 million this season, $2.5 million in 2009-10, $3 million in 2010-11 and $3.5 million in 2011-12.
Gleason, 25, joins Joe Corvo as Carolina's key defensemen going forward. And the Canes are looking to add a third this weekend at the draft. If Gleason hadn't been signed by July 1, he would have been eligible for offer sheets from other teams, which could have put the Canes in a difficult financial position. As it is, his new contract is comparable to the four-year, $14 million contract Ryan Suter just signed with the Predators.
For more on the Gleason contract saga, click here. And here. And here.
In an unrelated move, the Canes acquired the rights to impending free agent Darcy Hordichuk from the Predators for a fifth-round pick in 2009. If the Canes can't sign Hordichuk, who has 747 penalty minutes in 302 NHL games, they would get Nashville's fifth-round pick in 2010. Hordichuk is a veteran NHL tough guy who, if signed, would fill that void on Carolina's fourth line.
More to come on both moves later.
UPDATE, 5:14 p.m.: Talked to Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford, who is in Ottawa for the draft. (I am not, for the first time in seven years.)
On Gleason: "I think it's a very fair deal for both sides. In our case, this is a relatively young defenseman we have tied up for four years. We really want Tim to build on the second half of this season. As long as he does that, he'll be a very important part of our team."
On Hordichuk: "He has more NHL experience. He's played that role in the past. He's a great team player and he really fits into the character of our team and can really play that role on a regular basis."
I've got a call into Gleason. I'll update with his comments if and when I hear back from him.
Luke DeCock
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or luke.decock@newsobserver.com.
Comments
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2 years and counting
Fri, 06/20/2008 - 13:30 — Anonymous (not verified)while I like the re-signing of Gleason, I am still waiting on JR to do what he promised 2 years ago after winning the cup. That was to bring me a defenseman to shore up our core.
Till this very point for whatever reason JR has failed at doing what he needs to do to make this team better. He has blamed everyone in sight for the failure to reach the playoffs with one exception. HIMSELF. Even to the point of playing games with Peter Laviolette and calling him out and THINKING about not retaining him as coach.
I know it isn't the easiest thing in the world to get a stud D-Man however don't blame others for your failures. Accept some responsibility please.
Way to go JR and Timmy
Fri, 06/20/2008 - 09:33 — Scott in Apex (not verified)Great news, glad to hear both of those reports. Hordichuk will be a great fit for us and he'll not stand for headhunters taking runs at our forwards. I'm sure Scottie Walker recommended him highly. I hope they get him signed.
good & bad
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 18:58 — SunWhile I am happy about the Gleason signing, I am not happy to hear you will not be travelling to Ottawa, Luke. You do a great job reporting on the Canes & it will be AWFUL if the paper decides to cut back Canes coverage. I am hoping this won't happen!
Thanks for all your hard work :-)
Thanks for the good news Luke!
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 17:59 — Rearranging Deck Chairs (not verified)Great signing of Gleason at a value price. He's worth every penny. And great pick up of Hordichuk to boot. I would almost certainly think that this means the end of Brooks and also serves to further fuel the speculation that Colesy, Williams or Ruutu may not be playing in Raleigh too much longer. Personally, I hope we keep Justin Williams because he works very well with Brindy, but if we get another blue chip defender, then there are more than enough forwards to pick up the slack.
On a side note - Luke, I hope the N&O appreciates the value of your work to the point where your travel is limited by thrift. You do a yeoman's job and, like it or not, you have a dedicated and appreciative following.
Cheers!!
RDC
Interesting...
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 17:40 — johnnyg (not verified)The hordichuk signing sounds like Rutuu may not be re-signing... I hope he does, but it could also indicate that the "Cole for d-man" trade may be on the horizon.
I am glad we signed Gleason, but i am kind of suprised that you all are considering him our "best" d-man. I think he has that potential and for that I am happy with the signing but in my opinion he is not yet a top 2 d-man, he is still a top 4. We really dont have our top 2 yet, to pair with corvo.
Go Darcy
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 17:19 — Paul (not verified)I really hope we can sign Darcy, I was quite impressed with his play at the 'Yotes when I leaved in Phoenix.
thanks/draft
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 16:56 — Nico37That answers the question about you going to Ottawa. I assume it was not your decision, sorry you couldn't be there covering it for us :-(
Hordichuk sounds like Craig
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 16:45 — ctillHordichuk sounds like Craig Adams, except bigger. Interesting that the Canes, loaded with forwards, would trade for another one... but it's consistent with the expectation that a forward or two is about to be an ex-Cane. P.S. I hope Luke's absence at the draft is not indicative that the Charlotte Observer, now running the sportsroom of the N&O, will cut back sharply on hockey coverage.
Yippee!
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 16:40 — ClayfanLuke, when you talk to Gleason, tell him the fans are thrilled. Happy to see him remain a Cane.
Excellent signing!!!!!! Go
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 16:01 — Anonymous (not verified)Excellent signing!!!!!! Go Canes!!
This is the best news I've
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 15:13 — d-lee (not verified)This is the best news I've read in weeks! I
was beginning to fear that they would only agree to one of those dreaded one-year deals.
They still need to re-ink Seids and make some sort of fancy move in the free agent market (coughcough*LILES*cough) to shore up the blueline, but this is an excellent step in the right direction.
Great signing. JR shows us
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 14:59 — Anonymous (not verified)Great signing. JR shows us how its done once again!
Hallelujah!
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 14:42 — Schelle92 (not verified)OK, they were getting ready to scare me by not re-signing our top defenseman. Without Wes or Hedi, we definitely need him back. I do believe our top D pair this coming season will be Joe Corvo and Tim Gleason.