Oct 4, 2008 - 1:57 PM
0 shoutsRALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Zach Boychuk certainly had a happy birthday.
The 14th overall pick in this past June's draft, Boychuk signed a three-year entry level contract worth with the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday - which happened to be his 19th birthday.
Boychuk will net $787,500 per season in the NHL, or $65,000 at the minor league level.
"That has to be near the top, that's for sure," Boychuk said of where his new deal ranks on his all-time birthday present list. "I've had some good presents in the past, but I don't know if they can top this one."
The contract should brighten the spirits of Boychuk, who underwent a medical procedure to have a pin removed from his surgically repaired left wrist on Tuesday. The procedure, which was performed by Dr. George Edwards, will prevent the center from taking part in contact drills during practice for two weeks.
"It's pretty crazy," Boychuk said. "I didn't expect any of this to happen. I didn't expect get cleared so early in the beginning, and once I started practicing with the guys I started feeling pretty good. Hopefully I showed them a few things that I can play at this level."
Boychuk recorded 33 goals and 39 assists in 61 games with Lethbridge of the Western Hockey League last season, his third with the club. He also led the league with 13 playoff tallies as Lethbridge reached the WHL finals.
A native of Alberta, Boychuk helped Team Canada to its fourth consecutive gold medal at this year's World Junior Championship.
