After going undrafted and not hearing his name be called in this year’s National Hockey League draft, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds superstar Sergey Tolchinsky has been locked up by the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Canes announced today that they agreed to terms with the star caliber forward for a three year entry level contract. Tolchinsky impressed the Canes brass so much that the terms of the deal are as follows. According to NHL.com, the deal will pay Tolchinsky $550,000 at the NHL level or $55,000 at the American Hockey League level in the first year, $550,000 in the NHL or $67,500 in the AHL in the second year, and $575,000 in the NHL or $67,500 in the AHL in the third year. He will also receive a signing bonus of $150,000.
The Hurricanes weren’t the only team on Tolchinsky’s radar. Tolchinsky attended both Carolina and the New York Rangers’ prospect development camp back in July. It was Jim Rutherford who saw the spark on the ice and cemented the deal.
Last season the 5’8” Russia native notched 51 points in 62 games and was an integral part of the Greyhounds playoff run. Sault Ste. Marie will be sad to see such a powerhouse go but at the same time they should be proud of what they developed.
Whether Tolchinsky starts this season off with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL or with the big club of the NHL is yet to be seen but one thing is for certain: Tolchinsky is a storm brewing in Carolina.
marchhockey.com 