Hurricanes sign RW Eaves

Jun 4, 2008 - 4:03 PM RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Carolina Hurricanes brought back Patrick Eaves on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with the right wing on a three-year contract worth $4.2 million.

Eaves, 24, missed 42 games this past season due to a shoulder injury. Acquired in a four-player trade with Ottawa on February 11, he had five goals and 10 assists in 37 combined games with the Senators and Hurricanes.

"Patrick is an important part of our forward corps going forward," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "He just turned 24 years old and already has a 20-goal season under his belt.

"He battled through some injuries this past season, but we are looking forward to having him back and healthy this fall."

A 2003 first-round draft selection, Eaves has 39 goals and 37 assists in parts of three seasons with Ottawa and Carolina. The Calgary native scored 20 goals in just 58 games as a rookie with the Senators in 2005-06.