Right wing Aaron Palushaj has become the latest player to agree to a two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes as the team continues a busy week of adding depth players.
Palushaj (pronounced ‘pul-LOO-shigh’), split last season between the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and AHL Hamilton prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 23-year-old would have been a restricted free agent had the Avalanche, who claimed him on waivers from Montreal in February, chosen to present him with a qualifying offer.
“Aaron is still a young player and has some NHL experience under his belt,” Ron Francis, the Hurricanes’ vice president of hockey operations, said in a team statement. “He has good speed and good hands and we believe he can push for a job in Raleigh come September.”
A native of Livonia, Michigan, who reprented the United States at the 2009 World Junior Championship and 2013 IIHF World Championship, Palushaj joins defensemen Matt Corrente and Mark Flood as players from outside of the organization who have signed one-year, two-way contracts with Carolina in the last two days. All will be in contention for depth jobs with the Hurricanes and would play in Charlotte if unable to make the NHL roster. Conversely, their ability to make the roster would likely result in a promotion candidate from last season’s AHL squad returning to the Checkers.
The St. Louis Blues’ second-round pick in the 2007 draft, Palushaj has totaled 136 points (54g, 82a) and 129 penalty minutes in 190 career AHL games with Peoria and Hamilton. That includes 10 points in 21 games with the Bulldogs last season, and also a stretch in 2010-2012 in which he posted 92 points in 103 outings. He also scored 32 points (9g, 23a) in 42 career Calder Cup Playoff games, including 19 in 19 to help lead Hamilton to the Western Conference Final in 2011.
In 66 career NHL games with Montreal and Colorado, Palushaj (5-foot-11, 188 pounds) has scored 14 points (3g, 11a).
A complete list of players under contract for the 2013-14 season can be found here.
