The Carolina Hurricanes have signed center Eric Staal to a seven-year, $57.75 million contract extension.
Staal, 23, has one-year left on his current contract and will make $5 million this season. He will earn an average of $8.25 million per season.
Staal will earn $6 million in the first-year of the deal, $7.5 million in 2010-11, $7.75 million in 2011-12, $8.5 million in 2012-13, $9.25 million in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and $9.5 million in 2015-16.
"This is a great day for hockey in the Carolinas, to know that our franchise player will be with us for at least another eight seasons," said Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford. "Eric has been a special player for us right from the start. We know that he is just coming into his prime right now, and will continue to grow as a player."
In 82 games with the Hurricanes last season, Staal accumulated 38 goals and 44 assists for 82 points.
His best season - to date - came in 2005-06, the year the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, when he registered 45 goals and 55 assists for 100 points. In four NHL seasons, he's only missed one game, during his rookie campaign.
