Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - The Carolina Hurricanes have signed center Jeff Skinner to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Skinner was the seventh overall pick of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He will be paid $810,000 per season at the NHL level or $67,500 per year at the minor league level, and also received a $270,000 signing bonus.
The 18-year-old Ontario native ranked second in the Ontario Hockey League with 50 goals last season and added 40 assists for 90 points in 64 games for the Kitchener Rangers. He added 20 goals and 33 points in the OHL playoffs.
"Jeff was one of the OHL's top forwards last season and really stood out at the prospects tournament in Michigan," said Hurricanes president and GM Jim Rutherford. "He's an exciting, young player and an important part of the future for the Hurricanes."
Skinner can still be re-assigned to his junior hockey club, but cannot be assigned to Carolina's American Hockey League affiliate in Charlotte.
