Canes Sign Mendel To Entry-Level Contract

RALEIGH, NC. -Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Griffin Mendel to a one-year, entry-level contract. The deal will pay Mendel $775,000 at the NHL level and $75,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level in 2023-24. He will also receive a signing bonus of $15,000.

"Griffin is a young player who uses his large frame to his advantage defensively," said Waddell. "He has familiarity with our organization from his time in Chicago, and he adds to the depth of our blue line."

Mendel, 24, tallied 19 points (9g, 10a) in 72 AHL games with Chicago last season, and his nine goals ranked tied for fourth in the AHL among rookie blueliners. He has registered 21 points (9g, 12a) in 82 career AHL games and skated in one playoff game during the Wolves' run to the 2022 Calder Cup championship. The 6'4", 221-pound defenseman played five seasons of college hockey with Denver and Quinnipiac from 2017-22, earning 35 points (10g, 25a) in 176 games and serving as one of Denver's alternate captains as a senior in 2020-21. He also spent parts of three seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) from 2015-17, posting 24 points (4g, 20a) in 106 games with Penticton. Mendel added six points (2g, 4a) in 21 BCHL playoff games in 2017, helping the Vees win the league title. The Kelowna, B.C., native won gold with Canada White at the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.