Justin Faulk, ‘Canes sign 6-year, $29M extension

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Justin Faulk to a six-year contract extension worth $29 million.

Under terms announced Monday, Faulk will make $2.5 million next season and his salary will escalate to $6 million in each of the final two seasons of the deal in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Faulk turned 22 last week and is in his third season in the NHL. He’s second on the team with an average of about 23½ minutes of ice time a game. He played for the U.S. at the Sochi Olympics.

General manager Jim Rutherford calls Faulk “among the best young defensemen in the league” and says he “will continue to be the anchor of the Hurricanes’ defense for years to come.”