The Carolina Hurricanes, parent club of the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani on a one-year, two-way contract.
The deal will pay Gragnani $800,000 on the NHL level or $105,000 on the American Hockey League level.
“Marc-Andre was in the NHL all of last season, and will push for a job with us in the fall,” said Hurricanes vice president of hockey operations Ron Francis. “He has good size and has shown the ability to produce offensively both in the AHL and the NHL.”
Gragnani, 25, split the 2011-12 season between Buffalo and Vancouver, totaling two goals, 13 assists (15 points) and 26 penalty minutes in 58 games.
In 2010-11, Gragnani won the Eddie Shore Award as the outstanding defenseman in the American Hockey League after posting 12 goals, 48 assists, 60 points and a plus-22 rating in 63 games with Portland. In 283 career AHL games with Rochester and Portland, Gragnani has earned 206 points (47g, 159a) and registered 185 penalty minutes.
Drafted by the Sabres in the third round, 87th overall, of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Gragnani has appeared in 73 career NHL games with Buffalo and Vancouver, registering three goals and 15 assists (18 points).
