RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Justin Faulk to a six-year contract extension. The $29-million dollar deal will pay Faulk $2.5 million in 2014-15, $3.5 million in 2015-16, $5.5 million in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and $6 million in 2018-19 and 2019-20, for an average annual salary-cap figure of $4.833 million.

“Justin has proven to be among the best young defensemen in the league as confirmed by his selection to the U.S. Olympic team,” said Rutherford. “He has been and will continue to be the anchor of the Hurricanes’ defense for years to come.”

Faulk, who celebrated his 22nd birthday last Thursday, is in his third professional season, and his third NHL season with Carolina. Thus far in 2013-14, he has scored three goals and earned 21 assists (24 points) in 65 games played, and ranks second on the team in average ice time per game at 23:21. In February, the South St. Paul, MN, native represented the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, helping the Americans to a fourth-place finish.