Justin Shugg, who led the Checkers with a career-best 21 goals and 43 points last season, will be returning to the organization.
The Carolina Hurricanes announced Sunday that the 23-year-old has agreed terms on a new one-year, two-way contract. With Shugg, Zach Boychuk and Rasmus Rissanen all re-signed in recent weeks, center Brody Sutter is now the only restricted free agent who played for the Checkers last season that is still awaiting a new contract.
“Justin provides our organization with good depth at forward,” Ron Francis, the Hurricanes' general manager, said in a release. “He led Charlotte in scoring last season and has improved his offensive production each year since turning pro.”
A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Shugg’s point total has increased in each of his four AHL seasons. During the most recent campaign, he helped turn around a struggling power play by moving to the point midseason and finished as the team’s leader with 15 points on the man advantage.
Carolina’s fourth-round draft choice in 2010 (105th overall), Shugg ranks fifth all-time on the Checkers’ scoring list with 115 points. He made his NHL debut by playing in three games with Carolina last season.
