Hurricanes add veteran Ron Hainsey to roster

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

Veteran defenseman has totaled 192 points in 591 NHL games 

RALEIGH, N.C.In light of announcing earlier in the week that defenseman Joni Pikanen would miss the entire 2013-2014 season due to a heel injury he is still recovering from, the Carolina Hurricanes acted quickly and signed another veteran defenseman on Thursday.

While the team started its training camp skates at PNC Arena, president and general manager Jim Rutherford announced that the team had agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Ron Hainsey on a one-year contract.

The deal will pay Hainsey $2 million for the season.

“Ron is an experienced, two-way defenseman,” Rutherford said.

“He was very interested in joining our team this summer, and was patient as we waited for updated information about Joni Pitkanen’s injury. We are happy to be able to solidify our defense with a player of this caliber at this stage.”

Hainsey, 32, completed his 10th NHL season in 2012-13, earning 13 assists in 47 games for the Winnipeg Jets, while leading the team in in blocked shots (123) and was second among Jets defensemen in assists (13).

A first round pick of the Montreal Canadiens (13th overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Hainsey (6’3”, 210 lbs.) has totaled 34 goals and 158 assists (192 points) in 591 career NHL games with Montreal, Columbus, Atlanta and Winnipeg.

He has led his teams in blocked shots in three of the past four seasons, ranking second in the other.

The Bolton, Conn. native, is a product of the United States National Team Development Program, and spent two seasons at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell prior to turning professional.