The Carolina Hurricanes have gotten things started on the next day of pre-free agency signing, inking Patrick Brown to a one-year, two-way contract that will see him earn $650K at the NHL level. Brown was set to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent, which was explained yesterday by our own Mike Furlano. The team also signed restricted free agent Jake Chelios to a one-year two-way deal, worth $650K at the NHL level.
The 25-year old Brown split time between Charlotte and Carolina for the third straight season in 2016-17, but was held scoreless in 14 NHL games. He has just two points in 28 career games, but has been given very little chance during his call-ups. The former Boston College star signed with the Hurricanes out of school, but has still yet to make much of an impact even at the minor league level.
Brown will likely once again see time bouncing up and down, but this time he is no longer waiver exempt. That means he’ll have to pass through it every time and though he doesn’t seem like a strong candidate to be claimed, it does lessen his usefulness in that role.
Chelios on the other hand is a 26-year old defenseman and has yet to make his NHL debut. The former Michigan State grad has found pretty substantial success the last couple of years in the AHL, and could potentially be a depth call-up at some point. With 32 points in 76 games for Charlotte last season, he’ll return trying to help them get back to the playoffs and compete for a Calder Cup. Chelios is of course the son of former Montreal, Chicago and Detroit great Chris Chelios, who played 1,651 NHL contests in his Hall of Fame career.
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