Pesce, Hurricanes agree to six-year contract extension

Defenseman Brett Pesce agreed to terms on a six-year, $24.15 million contract extension with the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The contract, which begins next season, will have an average annual value of $4.025 million.
Pesce, 22, will make $809,167 this season in the final year of a three-year, entry-level contract he signed March 28, 2015.

"Brett took another big step forward last season," Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis said. "He plays a smart defensive game and has good ability to move the puck and contribute offensively. We plan for him to be a part of the Hurricanes' defensive corps for a long time."
Pesce, Carolina's third-round pick (No. 66) in the 2013 NHL Draft, had 20 points (two goals, 18 assists) and a plus-23 rating in 82 games last season. He has 36 points (six goals, 30 assists) in 151 NHL games, all with the Hurricanes.
Pesce was a teammate at the University of New Hampshire with defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, whom the Hurricanes acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights on June 22.
The Hurricanes signed defenseman Jaccob Slavin to a seven-year contract extension on July 12; it has an average annual value of $5.3 million.