Carolina Hurricanes agree to 8-year deal with Svechnikov

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Carolina Hurricanes star forward Andrei Svechnikov has agreed to an eight-year, $62 million contract that will keep him in a Canes uniform through the 2028-29 season.

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The 21-year-old forward has been a key piece to the Canes success since being drafted as the second-overall pick in 2018.

"Andrei is one of the cornerstones of this organization, and we are thrilled to reach a long-term commitment to keep him here," team president and general manager Don Waddell said. "He is one of the brightest rising stars in our sport, and will play a key role in our efforts to bring the Stanley Cup to the Triangle this decade."

Svechnikov scored 42 points in 55 games last season. He had 15 goals and 27 assists in 55 regular-season games for the Hurricanes last year, which saw the Canes win a division championship for the first time in 15 years. He also had two goals and six assists in 11 playoff games before the Hurricanes lost to eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay in the second round.

"It's actually an easy decision for me," Svechnikov said. "I want to have eight years to play in Carolina. I want to be a Hurricane. We have a great team here, great coaches."

The team said Thursday the deal will pay Svechnikov an average annual value of $7.75 million per season.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Svechnikov has been a fixture and physical presence on Carolina's top line alongside Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen.

He was a restricted free agent and the team had long been in extension talks with him, though Waddell had floated the possibility of a shorter-term "bridge" type deal to ensure getting something done if a long-term deal couldn't be reached.

Svechnikov's arrival has coincided with the team ending a nine-season playoff drought and reaching the postseason for three consecutive years.

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"We're excited about it," Waddell said. "It's also nice because our owner, Tom Dundon, was very supportive of the deal. Obviously, it's a lot of money but we all felt it was a very worthy investment."

The Associated Press contributed.