Blanchard

RALEIGH, NC – Ron Francis, Director of Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Nicolas Blanchard on a two-year, two-way contract. The deal will play Blanchard $525,000 per season at the NHL level, or $100,000 per season at the minor-league level, with a guarantee of $125,000 per season.

“Nicolas is a physical and reliable forward who continues to develop his game,” said Francis. “He has been a leader on and off the ice, and is well respected by his teammates and coaches.”

Blanchard, 24, completed his fifth full professional season in 2011-12, scoring nine goals, earning 12 assists (21 points) and accumulating 103 penalty minutes in 68 regular-season games with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). The Granby, Que., native ranked second among Checkers skaters in penalty minutes in 2011-12, marking the fourth straight season he has ranked among the top three in penalty minutes for Carolina’s AHL affiliates. Blanchard (6’3”, 200 lbs.) has scored 50 goals, earned 56 assists (106 points) and compiled 579 penalty minutes in 342 career AHL regular-season games with Albany and Charlotte. The Hurricanes drafted Blanchard in the sixth round, 192nd overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He has yet to make his NHL debut.