RALEIGH, NC - Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Jake Chelios on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Chelios $650,000 on the NHL level or $85,000 on the American Hockey League (AHL) level during the 2017-18 season.

Chelios, 26, led all Charlotte Checkers (AHL) defensemen in scoring during the 2016-17 season with a career-high 32 points. The Chicago native also established career bests in assists (28), plus/minus (+8) and shots on goal (152), serving as the Checkers alternate captain and team captain at various points throughout the season. He was the only Checkers skater to appear in all 76 of the team's games, and his plus-21 rating from Jan. 10 through the end of the season ranked second among all AHL players.

Originally signed as a free agent by the Hurricanes on April 22, 2016, Chelios has totaled 134 points (12g, 67a) in 194 career AHL games with Chicago and Charlotte. He is the son of Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios.