Hurricanes, D Pesce agree to 6-year contract extension

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Hurricanes and defenseman Brett Pesce have agreed to a six-year contract extension.

Under terms of the deal announced Tuesday and taking effect in 2018-19, Pesce will make $4.025 million per season.

The 22-year-old Pesce had 18 assists and 20 points last year in his second full professional season.

Both Pesce and his defensive partner - Jaccob Slavin - received lengthy extensions from the Hurricanes. Slavin agreed to a seven-year deal last month that will pay him $5.3 million, also starting in 2018-19.

General manager Ron Francis says Pesce ''plays a smart defensive game and has good ability to move the puck and contribute offensively.''

Pesce will make $892,000 this season, the last of his entry-level contract.

---

For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey