The Carolina Hurricanes have added some more forward depth, signing Max McCormick to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will carry a $700K salary at the NHL level. GM Don Waddell released a short statement:
Max is a hard-nosed forward who has shown a scoring touch and an ability to kill penalties at the AHL level. This signing adds depth to our forward group.
McCormick, 27, spent most of his professional career in the Ottawa Senators organization before a trade last year took him to Colorado. In Ottawa, he received 71 NHL opportunities over the years in which he scored ten points and registered 78 penalty minutes. The feisty winger has been more effective in the minor leagues, meaning he’ll probably end up playing with the Charlotte Checkers this season.
The Hurricanes have improved their group up front considerably since this time last year, bringing in names like Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Dzingel, Erik Haula and Brian Gibbons, meaning there might not be much opportunity for McCormick in the NHL. If you were to pick an AHL organization though, why not head to the defending Calder Cup champions. The Checkers lost their head coach and GM when Mike Vellucci left for the Penguins, but should still be a force in the AHL’s Eastern Conference.