Carolina Hurricanes sign Pesce to 6-year extension

Chris Baird, Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Tuesday that the team had agreed to terms with defenseman Brett Pesce on a six-year contract extension.

The deal will pay Pesce $4.025 million per season, effective as of 2018-19.

“Brett took another big step forward last season,” executive vice president and general manager Ron Francis said.

“He plays a smart defensive game and has good ability to move the puck and contribute offensively. We plan for him to be a part of the Hurricanes’ defensive corps for a long time.”

The 22-year-old Pesce completed his second full professional season in 2016-17, playing in all 82 of the Hurricanes’ games, and setting NHL career highs with 18 assists and 20 points.

Along with his defensive partner Jaccob Slavin, he posted a franchise single-season best plus-23 plus/minus rating, and both players finished the 2016-17 season ranked tied for 10th among all NHL skaters in plus/minus.

Originally drafted by the Hurricanes in the third round (66th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Pesce has scored six goals and earned 30 assists (36 points) in 151 career NHL regular-season games with Carolina.