– Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Jay Harrison to a three-year contract extension. The deal will pay Harrison $1.5 million per season beginning in 2013-14.

Jay Harrison Defense - CAR GOALS: 9 | ASST: 14 | PTS: 23

SOG: 128 | +/-: -10

“Jay has developed into a consistent, steadying presence for our defense,” said Rutherford. “He is capable of providing both physicality and offense, and we are happy to now have him under contract for the next four seasons.”

Harrison, 29, ranked first among Hurricanes defensemen in goals (9) in 2011-12, establishing career highs in goals (9), assists (14) and points (23) in 72 games played. The Oshawa, Ont., native ranked second on the team in blocked shots (132) and was the team’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, which honors sportsmanship, perseverance and dedication to the game of hockey. He was also selected by the Carolina chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association as the winner of the Josef Vasicek Award (formerly “Good Guy Award”) for media cooperation.

Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round, 82nd overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Harrison has totaled 13 goals, 28 assists (41 points) and 200 penalty minutes in 202 career NHL games with Toronto and Carolina. The Hurricanes originally signed Harrison as a free agent on July 9, 2009, and he has earned 39 points (13g, 26a) in 182 games with Carolina.