As expected, the Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Anton Babchuk to a one-year deal shortly after the free agency signing period opened today.
The Hurricanes retained Babchuk's rights after last season when the two sides couldn't agree on terms, and Babchuk, 26, spent the season in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League. The Hurricanes had made him a qualifying offer at the end of last season, but Babchuk had lost his arbitration rights after rebuffing the Hurricanes a previous time to return to Russia for the 2007-08 season.
In his last season with the Canes (2008-09), Babchuk had a career year scoring 16 goals — including four game-winners — and 19 assists.
"I will admit that we missed him," general manager Jim Rutherford said. "I said at the time, it's going to be hard to replace those 16 goals. We didn't."