RALEIGH, NC—Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager for the Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms center Jakub Petruzalek (YA-kuhb peh-troo-ZAL-ehk) to a two-year contract. The deal will pay Petruzalek $475,000 per year at the NHL level and, at the minor-league level, Petruzalek will earn $55,000 in the first year and $60,000 in the second year. Petruzalek also received a $65,000 signing bonus with this, his first NHL contract.

“Jakub is a highly-skilled offensive player,” said Karmanos. “He elevated his game in the playoffs for Albany and we look for ward to his continued development in the future.”

Petruzalek, 22, completed his first season of North American professional hockey in 2006-07. In 54 games with Carolina’s top minor-league affiliate, the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League, the Litvinov, Czech Republic, native scored 10 goals, earned 18 assists (28 points) and accumulated 16 penalty minutes. Prior to joining Albany, Petruzalek (5’10”, 176 lbs.) earned two assists in six games with Hartford (AHL) and 10 points (1g, 9a) in seven games with Charlotte of the ECHL. The Hurricanes acquired Petruzalek in a Nov. 21, 2006, trade that sent left wing Brad Isbister to the New York Rangers. The Rangers originally drafted Petruzalek in the ninth round, 266th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.