The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed defenseman Roland McKeown to a one-year, two-way contract.
McKeown, 24, served as captain of the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers in 2019-20, recording four goals and 20 assists for 24 points in 61 games.
The native of Listowel, Ont., has appeared in 271 regular-season AHL games, all with Charlotte, totaling 16 goals and 68 assists for 84 points along with a plus-61 rating. McKeown finished in the top 10 in the league in plus/minus in both 2017-18 (+34) and 2018-19 (+30).
McKeown has also collected one goal and seven assists in 23 postseason games, and won a Calder Cup with the Checkers in 2019.
Originally a second-round pick by Los Angeles in the 2014 NHL Draft, McKeown was acquired by Carolina in a trade with the Kings on Feb. 25, 2015, and has recorded three assists in 10 career NHL games with the Hurricanes.
“Roland had a solid season in the AHL last season and it is important that he get back on the ice to continue his development,” said Waddell. “Playing in the Swedish league is a great opportunity for him to do just that.”
McKeown, 24, registered 24 points (4g, 20a) in 61 games, while serving as captain for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers in 2019-20. The Listowel, Ont., native has registered 84 points (16g, 68a) in 271 career AHL games with Charlotte. McKeown made his NHL debut on Nov. 4, 2017 at Arizona and has tallied three assists in 10 career NHL games with Carolina. The 6’1″, 192-pound defenseman was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round, 50th overall, of the 2014 NHL Draft. He was acquired by the Hurricanes from the Kings along with a first-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft (Julien Gauthier) in exchange for Andrej Sekera on Feb. 25, 2015.
