The Carolina Hurricanes signed a pair of players to two-way contracts on Wednesday, bringing in defenseman Mark Flood and forward/defenseman Matt Corrente on one-year deals.
Flood, 28, and Corrente, 25, have split their careers between the NHL and AHL to this point, with Flood playing for former Hurricanes assistant coach Tom Rowe with Lokomotiv in the Russian KHL last season. If unable to secure depth spots at Carolina’s training camp, they would likely report to Charlotte as long as they clear waivers.
“Mark is a veteran defenseman with some NHL experience, who we are familiar with from being a part of our organization in the past,” Jason Karmanos, the Hurricanes’ assistant general manager, said in a team release. “Matt is a physical and versatile player capable of contributing at defense or forward. He has had some injuries the past few seasons but is 100 percent healthy now.”
The signing of Flood marks the player’s second tour of duty in the Carolina organization, as the 6-foot-1, 190-pound blueliner spent three seasons playing for the Hurricanes’ previous AHL affiliate in Albany from 2006-2009, including one season with current Checkers coach Jeff Daniels. Prior to playing overseas last season, Flood, who has 146 points (43g, 103a) in 317 career AHL games with Syracuse, Albany, Bridgeport and St. John’s, set NHL career highs in games played (33), goals (3), assists (4) and points (7) with Winnipeg in 2011-12.
Flood, likely the veteran the Checkers were seeking to complement an influx of younger defensemen next season, was junior teammates with Hurricanes captain Eric Staal with the Peterborough Petes.
Corrente, who the New Jersey Devils chose with the 30th overall draft pick in 2006, has spent each of the last two seasons in the AHL with Albany. Limited to just 50 games played over the last two seasons, he has recorded 49 points (13g, 36a) and 350 penalty minutes in 163 total AHL games with Lowell and Albany. He had six points, all assists, in 34 career NHL games with New Jersey, and could be capable of finding a home on Carolina's fourth line, where he'll provide competition for players like Brett Sutter and Nicolas Blanchard.
An updated player tracker, including players under contract and those from last season who have yet to sign, can be found here.
