The Carolina Hurricanes have added some goaltending depth, announcing that they have signed goaltender Yaniv Perets to a two-year, entry-level contract. The deal, which begins next season, carries a base salary of $775K along with a signing bonus of $60K per year. GM Don Waddell released the following statement about his newest prospect:
Yaniv was a crucial part of Quinnipiac’s run to the national championship this season, and he has been an elite goaltender for his entire collegiate career. He is a proven winner, and we look forward to seeing him develop in the crease.
Perets, 23, led the Quinnipiac University Bobcats to their first NCAA men’s ice hockey championship last weekend. He was named to the NCAA East Second All-American Team and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award the past two seasons.
Born in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Québec, Perets posted a .931 save percentage and 1.49 goals-against average in a career-high 41 games with the Bobcats this season, including a .948 save percentage in the four tournament games, only allowing five goals.
The Hurricanes’ interest in Perets should have come as no surprise, given the connection between the netminder and the Brind’Amour family. For three seasons at Quinnipiac, Perets was teammates with Skyler Brind’Amour, a soon-to-be free agent and the son of Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour.
Given Perets’ strong performance the past two seasons as the Bobcats’ starter, he undoubtedly received multiple offers. He gives the organization a second legitimate goalie prospect behind the 23-year-old Pyotr Kochetkov.
While an intriguing prospect, Perets’ ceiling is disputable, given his age and development path. His development path before NCAA play mirrors Buffalo Sabres star prospect Devon Levi, but Perets is over a year older and played behind a better defensive unit in Quinnipiac. Regardless, it’s a no-risk acquisition for the Hurricanes if they can make it work.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first reported that the Hurricanes were the frontrunners to sign Perets.