RALEIGH, N.C. – Carolina Hurricanes executive vice president and general manager Ron Francis kept the communications staff busy with the announcements of five free agent signings on Thursday.
The Hurricanes came to terms with defensemen Ryan Murphy, Dennis Robertson, and Keegan Low along with forwards Brendan Woods and Brody Sutter.
After spending time between Raleigh and Charlotte in 2015-2016 to end his entry-level contract (ELC), Murphy signed a two-year, one-way contract worth $750,000 in 2016-17, and $825,000 in 2017-18.
“Ryan is still a young player at 23, and has shown he can contribute offensively from the blue line,” Francis said.
“He has developed through our system and we look forward to seeing his game continue to grow.”
The 23 year-old earned 10 assists in 35 games with the Hurricanes, and scored seven goals and earned 17 assists in 32 American Hockey League (AHL) games played with the Charlotte Checkers.
Murphy, Carolina’s first round pick (12th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft has totaled 35 points (6g, 29a) in 124 career NHL regular season games with the Hurricanes since making his debut in 2012-13, and has earned 63 points (10g, 53a) in 82 career AHL games with the Checkers.
Robertson was reacquired by Carolina at the trade deadline and signed a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $650,000 at the NHL level, or $75,000 at the AHL level in 2016-17.
At 25, he split the 2015-16 season between Chicago’s AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, and the Checkers, posting two goals, earning seven assists (9 points) and recording a plus-15 plus/minus rating in 58 AHL regular-season games.
Prior to last season, Robertson was traded to Chicago (Sept. 11, 2015), along with Jake Massie and a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft in exchange for Kris Versteeg, Joakim Nordstrom and a third-round pick in 2017.
He was reacquired by Carolina on Feb. 29, in exchange for goaltender Drew MacIntyre.
Originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round (173rd overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Robertson was acquired by Carolina on Jan. 1, 2014, along with John-Michael Liles, in exchange for Tim Gleason.
He signed an ELC with the Hurricanes after completing a four-year collegiate career at Brown University in 2014.
To date, Robertson has scored five goals, tallied 21 assists and accumulated 104 penalty minutes in 116 career AHL regular-season games with Rockford and Charlotte.
Lowe re-signs with Carolina after recording AHL career highs with Charlotte last season.
Lowe signed a one-year, two-way contract that will play him $750,000 at the NHL level, or $80,000 at AHL level in 2016-17.
The 23 year-old posted career highs in games played (67), goals (3), assists (11) and points (14) in his third season with the Checkers.
Lowe made his NHL debut in the 2014-15 season with the Hurricanes, and skated in two games and exhibited his physical style of play in racking up 10 penalty minutes following two separate fights with then-Philadelphia Flyers forward Vincent Lecavalier.
The Hurricanes’ third round pick (73rd overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, he has played 188 career AHL regular-season games with Charlotte, with seven goals, 30 assists, and 267 penalty minutes to his credit.
Having played five games with Carolina last season, Woods returns for another season, signing a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $650,000 at the NHL level, or $80,000 at the AHL level in 2016-17.
The 24 year-old spent the majority of his third pro season with Charlotte, and scored nine goals and earned 11 assists in 59 games.
Woods made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes in 2014-15, and has skated in seven career NHL games.
Carolina’s fifth round selection (129th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, he has posted 58 points (27g, 31a) and collected 182 penalty minutes in 171 career AHL regular-season games played with Charlotte.
Sutter earned promotion to record participation in eight NHL games in 2015-16.
He returns to Carolina after signing a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $600,000 at the NHL level, or $115,000 at the AHL level in 2016-17.
At 24, Sutter completed his fourth full professional season after playing 70 games with Charlotte and ranked tied for fifth with 13 goals as part of a 24-point season.
The Hurricanes’ seventh round pick (193rd overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, he has skated in 12 career NHL regular-season games since making his Hurricanes debut in the 2014-15 season, and has scored 37 goals and earned 46 assists in 211 career AHL regular-season games with the Checkers.