The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to terms with defenceman Anton Babchuk on a one-year contract. The deal will pay Babchuk $1 million in 2008-2009.
"Anton had a good year in the Russian Superliga," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "He played well at times with us two seasons ago and now, at 24 years old, it is his time to mature into a consistent NHL defenseman."
Babchuk, 24, spent the 2007-08 season playing with Avangard Omsk of the Russian Superliga. He led all Omsk defensemen and ranked tied for fifth among Superliga defensemen in scoring with 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 57 games played.
Acquired by Carolina from Chicago during the 2005-06 season in exchange for Danny Richmond, 6-foo-t5 Babchuk has notched 26 points and 54 penalty minutes in 96 career NHL games with the Blackhawks and Hurricanes.
Chicago's first-round pick (21st overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Babchuk had ten points in 39 NHL games in 2005-06, and served as a "Black Ace" during Carolina's run to the Stanley Cup championship.