Hurricanes buy out Semin's contract, sign Riley Nash
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Hurricanes have officially bought out Alexander Semin's contract.
The team announced the buyout Wednesday, after the enigmatic forward cleared irrevocable waivers. Carolina waived him Tuesday with the intent of buying out his deal.
Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Semin is owed $14 million - two-thirds of the amount remaining on his contract - over six years. He had three years left on a deal that paid him $7 million annually.
The team also announced a few relatively minor moves on the first day of the NHL's free agency period.
Carolina signed free-agent forward T.J. Hensick to a one-year, two-way deal, agreed to terms with two of its restricted free agents - center Riley Nash and defenseman Rasmus Rissanen - and gave an entry-level deal to defenseman Jaccob Slavin.
Nash, 25, had career highs of 17 assists and 25 points last season with the Hurricanes. He received a one-year deal that will pay him $1.15 million.
Hensick, 29, spent last season with Montreal's AHL affiliate in Hamilton and led the team with 41 assists and 60 points. He has played in 112 career NHL games with Colorado and St. Louis, but none since the 2010-11 season. He will make $600,000 in the NHL or $250,000 in the minor leagues.
Rissanen, who split last season between the Hurricanes and their AHL affiliate in Charlotte, will make $575,000 in the NHL or $125,000 in the minors with a guarantee of $150,000.
Slavin will make $832,000 in the NHL or $70,000 in the minors with a $277,500 signing bonus.