RALEIGH, NC - Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has hired Tim Gleason to lead the Hurricanes' defensemen development. Gleason will be responsible for working with all defensemen in the Hurricanes system, including drafted players in the Canadian major-junior hockey leagues, college, ECHL and American Hockey League (AHL).

"Tim was tough, intelligent, and a great leader in his 11 NHL seasons as a player," said Waddell. "We are excited to bring Tim back to the organization and look forward to him instilling those characteristics into our defensemen as he helps them develop."

Originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Gleason, 35, played 727 career NHL games with Los Angeles, Carolina, Toronto and Washington, totaling 142 points (17g, 125a) and 701 penalty minutes. Acquired by the Hurricanes in Sept. 2006, he went on to play 546 regular-season games for the franchise and ranks sixth in the team's North Carolina history (since 1997) in games played. Gleason also appeared in 19 Stanley Cup playoff games for the Hurricanes, and scored the overtime, game-winning goal in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Devils.

A native of Clawson, MI, Gleason represented the United States in a number of international competitions, winning silver at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. He also played for Team USA at the 2008 IIHF World Championship and the 2001 and 2003 World Junior Championships.