Hurricanes Keep Jokinen, Pitkanen on Three-Year Deals

The Carolina Hurricanes were in danger of losing one of its top defenseman and a clutch forward to unrestricted free agency. But thanks to a couple of enticing three-year deals, Joni Pitkanen and Jussi Jokinen will remain in Carolina for $13.5 million and $9 million, respectively.

Pitkanen, 27, will enter his fourth season with the Hurricanes in 2011-12 and is known for being strong, albeit non-consistent at times, offensively with an ability to log big minutes. He scored five goals with 30 assists for a 36-point campaign last year and matched a career-high with 46 points two seasons ago between six goals and 40 helpers.

The former first round (fourth overall) draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2002 will earn $4.5 million in each year of the contract and will count equally as a cap hit to the Hurricanes' payroll.

Jokinen, 28, will make and count as a cap hit annually at the rate of $3 million. Jokinen, who was acquired by the Hurricanes in 2009 from the Tampa Bay Lightning a year after the Lightning acquired him in the Brad Richards trade to Dallas, scored 19 goals and posted 52 points in 70 games last year. He set career highs in goals (30) and points (65) during the 2009-10 season and also came with some important offensive showings during an 18-game playoff appearance with the Hurricanes back in 2009 with seven goals and 11 points.

For a player that can go in multiple situations and has a knack for coming up in the clutch, this is a great value re-signing for the Hurricanes.