RALEIGH, NC—Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Jay Harrison on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Harrison $500,000 at the NHL level and $125,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level in 2009-10, with $175,000 guaranteed.

“Jay is a big defenseman who has been a depth player in the Toronto system since turning professional,” said Karmanos. “His size and experience should allow him to compete for a roster spot with the Hurricanes next season.”

Harrison, 26, split 2008-09 between Zug of the Swiss National League and the Toronto Maple Leafs. With Zug, Harrison (6’4”, 211 lbs.) scored six goals, added nine assists (15 points) and collected 96 penalty minutes in 41 regular-season games. The Oshawa, Ont., native signed with Toronto on March 27 after Zug’s season ended, and played in seven games with the Maple Leafs, earning one assist and totaling 10 penalty minutes.

The Maple Leafs drafted Harrison in the in the third round, 82nd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, and he turned professional at the end of the 2001-02 season. In 376 career regular-season games with Toronto’s AHL affiliates, Harrison scored 32 goals, earned 66 assists (98 points) and accumulated 564 penalty minutes. In 20 career NHL games with the Maple Leafs, he earned two assists and totaled 18 penalty minutes.