The Hurricanes added defensive depth on Friday with the signing of Swiss defenseman Michael Fora.
Fora, who signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Hurricanes, spent the last three years with Ambri-Piotta of his native Swiss league. The 6-foot-4, 214-pound blueliner helped Switzerland advance to the gold-medal game at last month’s World Championship.
“Michael is a good-sized defenseman who had a strong season in Ambri and was used in a top-pairing shutdown role during Switzerland’s run at the World Championship,” Don Waddell, the Hurricanes’ president and general manager, said in a team release. “He adds depth to our defensive corps on the right side.”
Fora, who ranked 11th among Swiss league defensemen in scoring last season with 27 points (6g, 21a) in 50 games, will compete for a roster spot in Carolina but would also be eligible to join Charlotte. As of his signing, recent Checkers defensemen Jake Chelios, Brenden Kichton, Dennis Robertson and Philip Samuelsson were all awaiting new contracts for next season.
The undrafted Fora, who also represented Switzerland at 2015 World Junior Championship, has not played in North America since his 2014-15 junior season with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, where he ranked second among team defensemen with 34 points (5g, 29a) in 60 games.