Hurricanes Agree to Terms With Cory Stillman

[Thrillhouse]

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced today that the Hurricanes have agreed to terms with left wing Cory Stillman on a three-year contract.

"Cory has been a consistent offensive player throughout his NHL career," said Rutherford. "He was a key member of Tampa Bay's power play, and we will look for him to do the same for our team."

Stillman, 31, was second among Lightning scorers and seventh overall in the league with 80 points (25g, 55a) in 81 games during the 2003-04 season. He was third in the NHL in assists (55) and led Tampa Bay with 11 power-play goals. His totals in games played (81), assists (55), points (80) and power-play goals (11) were all career highs. The Peterborough, Ont., native scored seven points (2g, 5a) in 21 playoff games as the Lightning captured the Stanley Cup.

Stillman has tallied 20 goals or more in five of his last six NHL seasons, only missing that plateau during 1999-2000 season, when he missed the majority of the year due to a shoulder injury. Originally drafted sixth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, Stillman has tallied 184 goals, 250 assists (434 points) and 326 penalty minutes in 645 career regular-season games with Calgary, St. Louis and Tampa Bay. He has scored eight goals and earned 15 assists (23 points) in 53 career NHL playoff games. Stillman has played in 70 or more games in seven of his nine full NHL seasons, including each of the last four.

[habsfighter15]

Great signing for Carolina. He's an upgrade obver O'Neill. Nobody thinks of it but he was 7th in the entire league in points. That's pretty damn good. Only thing is who will feed him the puck he won't have Vinny and Marty to play with anymore.

[Bear]

I must say I'm happy with this signing. Comparable to Jeff O'Neill but better character and less expensive. The fact that Stillman only cost $1.75 means that Jim Rutherford can still consider a $3 million type player to be a top line left winger. (He said he had $5.5 million earmarked for free agents of course.) With two left wingers (Cole and Stillman) available now, I have to believe we'll see that $3M player and the return of Bates Battaglia as a minimal fourth liner.

I can already taste the Zamboni fumes.

[LightningJeff]

I'm not too upset about this. There has to be losses somewhere in all this and the Bolts weren't going to pay him $1.7 mil when there are still other more important issues to deal with such as Habby, Vinnie and Marty. Throw Dan Boyle into that mix as well.

[Mr. America]

I think Stillman will do well in the Laviolette system. He's better rounded offensively than O'neill and should get more points than him probaly.

I think A Williams-Staal-Stillman line should produce.