The Carolina Hurricanes signed pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Jalen Chatfield to a three-year contract worth $3 million per season, the team confirmed Friday.
Chatfield was due to hit the open market on July 1. He earns a significant raise from the $762,500 cap hit he's carried over the past two campaigns.
"Jalen has been an integral part of our blue line over the last two seasons and firmly established himself as an NHL defenseman," interim general manager Eric Tulsky said. "His elite speed and tireless work ethic make him an incredibly dynamic player at both ends of the ice."
The Hurricanes signed Chatfield on a two-way contract in 2021 after an 18-game stint with the Vancouver Canucks. He's grown into a prominent role on Carolina's blue line, setting career highs in goals (eight), points (22), and average ice time (15:12) this past season.
Carolina is facing a potential exodus this summer, with several prominent players on expiring contracts. Jake Guentzel, Jordan Martinook, Teuvo Teravainen, and Brett Pesce are among the key UFAs on the Canes' books, while Seth Jarvis and Martin Necas are notable RFAs in need of new contracts.
The Hurricanes are reportedly working on a long-term extension for top-pair defenseman and 2025 UFA Jaccob Slavin, who is eligible to sign on July 1.
Carolina has approximately $23 million in financial flexibility with for the rest of the summer now that Chatfield's been signed, per CapFriendly.
