Hurricanes Sign Shane Willis to One-Year Deal

[Thrillhouse]

RALEIGH, NC – Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager for the 2006 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed right wing Shane Willis to a one-year contract. The deal will pay Willis $450,000 at the NHL level and $115,000 at the American Hockey League level, with $150,000 guaranteed.

“We are obviously familiar with Shane from his time in our organization,” said Karmanos. “He is capable of scoring at a high level and finished last season with a very strong playoffs in the Swedish Elite League.”

Willis, 29, spent the 2005-06 season in Europe, playing 32 games with HC Davos of Nationalliga A in Switzerland before finishing the regular season with Linkopings HC in the Swedish Elite League. He totaled five goals and 15 assists (20 points) and 53 penalty minutes with Davos and earned one assist in his six regular season games with Linkoping. Willis led Linkoping in goals (6) and points (11) in 13 SEL playoff games.

Originally drafted by the Hurricanes in the fourth round (88th overall) of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Willis was selected to the NHL All-Rookie team in 2000-01 after netting 20 goals and tallying 44 points in his first full NHL season. He was traded to Tampa Bay along with Chris Dingman by Carolina on March 5, 2002 in exchange for Kevin Weekes. In 174 career NHL games with the Hurricanes and Lightning, Willis has totaled 74 points (31g, 43a) and 77 penalty minutes. The Edmonton native has notched 196 points (92g, 104a) in 243 career games with the American Hockey League affiliates of the Hurricanes and Lightning.

[Drano]

Safe for the guy to come back now that Stevens is gone.

Honestly though, he could do ok under the "new rules", but it's likely an AHL shore-up...