Hurricanes sign Ron Hainsey to one-year, $2 million deal

Defenseman Ron Hainsey signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes. (Sean Rudyk/Getty Images) The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Ron

Defenseman Ron Hainsey signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes. (Sean Rudyk/Getty Images)

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Ron Hainsey to a one-year, $2 million contract, as first reported by Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer. The team later confirmed the signing.

Hainsey was signed to help replace Joni Pitkanen who is expected to miss the 2013-14 season with a heel injury. Hainsey was an unrestricted free agent after his five-year, $22.5 million Winnipeg Jets contract expired. He scored no goals and 13 assists in 47 games for the Jets last season.

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The 10-year NHL veteran also served on the players' association's negotiating committee during the lockout.

“Ron is an experienced, two-way defenseman,” said general manager Jim Rutherford via NHL.com. “He was very interested in joining our team this summer, and was patient as we waited for updated information about Joni Pitkanen’s injury. We are happy to be able to solidify our defense with a player of this caliber at this stage.”