Canes general manager Jim Rutherford has said defenseman Anton Babchuk doesn't seem to understand the NHL's free agency system.

Apparently not. Babchuk has signed a one-year contract for $1.5 million with Avangard Omsk of the KHL according to a media report out of Russia. Word has it Babchuk, a restricted free agent with no arbitration rights, was offered the same deal by the Canes after being made an initial qualifying offer of one year at $1 million.

So Babchuk is in Russia. The Canes still retain his rights. Babchuk, who switched agents just before deciding to sign with Omsk, should be playing in the NHL this year — with the Canes or some NHL team.

Defenseman Anton Babchuk now has a new agent and intends to stay in the NHL, Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today. It just won't be with Carolina.

Rutherford said Babchuk, who had been represented by Jay Grossman, hired Don Meehan of Newport Sports Management last week. Rutherford said he has talked with Meehan about Babchuk this week.

"We'd like to get Anton's situation cleared up and there's been more action in the last week," Rutherford said. "He wants to stay in the league and not go back to Russia."

Having signed veteran forward Stephane Yelle, Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today, "That should be it for us."

In other words, everything is set for the beginning of training camp next month. Rutherford said it's unlikely the Canes will have anyone come in for free-agent tryouts in the preseason camp, although he didn't completely rule it out.

But there is one bit of unfinished business: defenseman Anton Babchuk.

"At this point, it appears he will be going back to Russia," Rutherford said.

A day after adding depth forward Steven Goertzen and re-signing minor leaguers Casey Borer and goalie Justin Peters, the Carolina Hurricanes added defenseman Jay Harrison.

Harrison was signed to a one-year, two-way contract that would pay him $500,000 at the NHL level and $125,000 in the AHL, with $175,000 guaranteed.

Canes forwards Erik Cole and Chad LaRose, as unrestricted free agents, go on the open market at noon today when the NHL signing period begins.

But for how long?

Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today that although there are no guarantees, Cole may wind up returning. He said Cole has said he will not drag out the free-agent process.

"Erik is working hard to work with us," Rutherford said. "He'll still go into free agency but has said he will not stay out there long if he does not see a big deal he can get."

From Talking Points:

Anton Babchuk was back in the lineup Sunday after being scratched for Game 5, and it was a move with a pretty solid foundation.

Babchuk wasn’t happy at being left out, so you figure you’ll get a pretty good game from him. And it’s at home, so you get to control who he’s out against and should get more power plays to use him.

As these things often happen, Babchuk made a key play in the first period that led to Carolina’s first goal.

Read more here. 

Anton Babchuk was back in the lineup Sunday after being scratched for Game 5, and it was a move with a pretty solid foundation.

Babchuk wasn’t happy at being left out, so you figure you’ll get a pretty good game from him. And it’s at home, so you get to control who he’s out against and should get more power plays to use him.

As these things often happen, Babchuk made a key play in the first period that led to Carolina’s first goal.

For all the talk about the Canes needing to get more production from their top lines against the Devils, what about Anton Babchuk?

The defenseman had a team-high four goals against the Devils in the four regular-season games. All came on power plays, and his hard, heavy shot got the attention of Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur.

But in three playoff games, Babchuk has just two shots on goal and has not scored.

"He hasn't been on the (power-play) first unit," Brodeur said today. "He has been on the second unit, so that's a little different from when we played them in the regular season."

For all the talk about the Canes replacing injured forward Justin Williams, and how it could affect the lines, what about the defensive combinations?

Newcomer Joni Pitkanen seems set with Tim Gleason. Another defensive combination likely could be Niclas Wallin and Joe Corvo. 

The third? Could be Anton Babchuk and Josef Melichar. 

Defenseman Anton Babchuk is back with the Hurricanes after playing last season for Avangard Omsk in the Russian Superliga, signing a one-year, $1 million NHL contract.

During the 2006-2007 season, Babchuk was briefly suspended by the Hurricanes when he refused an assignment with the AHL's Albany River Rats. He relented and reported to Albany, and was later recalled by the Canes. But after the season, the Kiev native left for Omsk.

Here's what Babchuk had to say this week.