NHL Free Agency Grades 2014: Carolina Hurricanes Free Agent Signings
By Brett Finger
April 23, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center
Jiri Tlusty(19) carries the puck against the New York Islanders at the PNC center. The Hurricanes defeated the Islanders 4-3 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
LW. Carolina Hurricanes. Jiri Tlusty. 2. player. 109. <strong>2013-2014 Regular Season Stats: </strong>68 games played, 16 goals, 14 assists, 30 points, +2, 22PIM<br /> <strong>Term: </strong>1 year, $2.95 million
Jiri Tlusty was re-signed by the Carolina Hurricanes on the first day of free agency. The restricted free agent likely would have received plenty of interest from other NHL teams if the Canes didn’t bring him back.
The 26-year-old Czech forward is one year removed from a 23-goal campaign in the 2013 shortened season. He played in 48 games for the Hurricanes.
He, Eric Staal, and Alexander Semin formed a lethal first line as they all went on to have incredible years in 2013.
Since then, the play of all of them has dropped. Jiri Tlusty struggled through much of the 2013-2014 season as he tried to find a place in the lineup to stick.
After have an emergency appendectomy in late December, Jiri Tlusty came back and played a lot better with Jordan Staal on the team’s second line.
He finished the year with a very respectable 16 goals and 30 points. His defensive acumen and offensive flair makes him valuable, and the Carolina Hurricanes were able to get him signed to a one-year deal that is very reasonable for both parties.
Grade: B+