Carolina Re-Signs Mike Murphy

The Hurricanes signed Mike Murphy to a new contract on Thursday, officially bringing him back into the organization and rounding out Charlotte’s projected goalie tandem for next season.

Though Murphy, 24, had rejoined the Checkers on a tryout contract in March of last season, he had been a restricted free agent at the NHL level ever since signing in the Russian league last summer. After a prolonged hiatus from hockey following his November release from Spartak Moscow, Charlotte’s all-time leader in games played (77) and wins (39) by a goaltender played two AHL games last season, allowing nine goals on 55 shots.

Murphy’s signing will likely result in the reunion of Charlotte’s starting goaltending tandem from two seasons earlier, with Justin Peters likely to rejoin the Checkers following the Hurricanes’ signing of free agent goaltender Anton Khudobin last week.

The Hurricanes’ sixth-round draft choice (165th overall) in 2008, Murphy is 49-35-4 with a 2.69 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and five shutouts in 97 total AHL games with Albany and Charlotte. The Ontario Hockey League’s goaltender of the year in 2008 and 2009 has also played two NHL games with Carolina, becoming the first goaltender in history to record an NHL loss before allowing an NHL goal in December of 2011.

The other two goaltenders used by Charlotte last season, Rob Madore and John Muse, are unrestricted free agents. Muse was a restricted free agent until the Hurricanes chose not to present him with a qualifying offer earlier this month.

With Murphy and Riley Nash signing this week, Carolina has three restricted free agents yet to sign: forwards Zach Boychuk, Zac Dalpe and Jared Staal. Another, defenseman Michal Jordan, signed earlier in the day on Thursday. An updated list of the organization’s free agent activity and contract statuses can be found here.