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) to a one-year contract worth $525,000.

“Jiri is still a very young player with an upside,” said Rutherford. “After dealing with some tough injuries, we feel he can play an important role for the Hurricanes next season.”

Tlusty, 23, notched six goals and earned six assists (12 points) in 57 games with Carolina in 2010-11. The Slany, Czech Republic, native missed the start of the NHL season as he recovered from knee surgery following the 2009-10 season, and also missed 14 games in December and January with an upper-body injury. Tlusty (6’0”, 209 lbs.) has scored 17 goals and earned 21 assists (38 points) in 149 career NHL games with Toronto and Carolina. Originally drafted by the Maple Leafs in the first round, 13th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Tlusty was acquired by Carolina on Dec. 3, 2009, in exchange for the rights to forward Philippe Paradis.