Hurricanes Sign Joakim Nordstrom, Jake Chelios

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed Joakim Nordstrom and Jake Chelios to contract extensions, the team announced Friday.

Nordstrom gets a two-year contract carrying a $1.275 AAV. In his first season with Carolina, the 23-year-old forward scored 10 goals and 24 points in 71 games, all career-high marks.

“Joakim took a major step forward in his career last season,” said General Manager Ron Francis. “We expect him to continue to grow as both a player and a leader on our team.”

He was acquired by the ‘Canes during the offseason in a cap-dump trade that sent Nordstrom, Kris Versteeg and a 3rd round draft pick to Raleigh in exchange for Dennis Robertson, 2015 6th round draft pick Jake Massie and a 5th round draft pick.

Chelios, the 25-year-old son of Chris Chelios, is entering his third season of pro hockey after coming out of Michigan State. He spent last season logging 73 games for the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, where he put together seven goals and 31 points.

Chelios has been inked to a one-year, two-way contract. The team shared that the deal pays $575,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the AHL level.

“Jake was a steady presence for Charlotte last season in his first full season playing defense,” said Francis. “He showed that he can contribute offensively and, at 25, he fits in well with our organization’s young defensemen.”

The deal is Chelios’s first NHL contract.