RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Jiri Tlusty (YIH-ree T’LOO-stee) on a one-year, one-way contract. The deal will pay Tlusty $500,000 in 2010-11.

“Jiri a smart and skilled player who can play in all situations,” said Rutherford. “He played well with the Hurricanes last year, and is ready to become an everyday NHL player.”

Tlusty, 22, was acquired by the Hurricanes from Toronto on Dec. 3, 2009, in exchange for the rights to center Philippe Paradis. He played in a combined 20 NHL games with Toronto and Carolina in 2009-10, scoring one goal and earning five assists (6 points) in 18 games with the Hurricanes following the trade. The Slany, Czech Republic, native also played in 39 American Hockey League (AHL) games last season, notching 14 goals and earning 16 assists (30 points) with the Toronto Marlies and the Albany River Rats.

In four full professional seasons in North America, Tlusty (6’0”, 209 lbs.) has scored 11 goals and earned 15 assists (26 points) in 92 NHL games with Carolina and Toronto. In the 125 career AHL regular-season games, he has notched 49 goals and earned 69 assists (118 points) with the Marlies and the River Rats. Toronto drafted Tlusty in the first round, 13th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft