‘Canes Extend Elias Lindholm for 2 Years

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed 20-year-old center Elias Lindholm to a two-year contract extension, the team announced on Thursday.

The deal carries an AAV of $2.7 million, the team shared of their own accord, with Lindholm making $2.5 million in the 2016-17 season and $2.9 million in the following year.

This coming season Lindholm will finish up the final year of his three-year entry-level contract, with the extension kicking in the year after that.

It’s a pretty reasonable hit for a player as young as Lindholm, who has been growing his game consistently.

Carolina GM Ron Francis agrees, saying in the announcement, “Elias played well last season, nearly doubling his offensive numbers from his rookie year… We expect he will be a very important part of the Hurricanes as he continues to develop as a professional.”

Last season he posted 17 goals and 22 assists through 81 games, nearly doubling the offensive production of his rookie campaign when he scored nine goals and 12 assists.

He also showed improvement in his possession numbers, posted a score-adjusted CF%Rel of 1.5% for a 52.8% score-adjusted CF% total. He did that with 5.4% ZSO%Rel, but it’s a good sign for the young center, who is going to be given strong zone starts as he continues to emerge as an offensive force for the ‘Canes.

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