The Carolina Hurricanes have secured goaltending depth through at least next season.
On Saturday, the team announced it had signed goaltender Spencer Martin to a one-year contract extension. The deal, which kicks in next season, will carry a $775,000 cap hit.
Martin joined the Hurricanes after being claimed off waivers on Jan. 19. He started the season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, going 3-8-1 with a 3.65 goals-against average and .887 save percentage in 13 appearances.
However, since coming to Raleigh, Martin has played really well with a team challenging for a division title. In five starts, the 28-year-old is 4-0-1 with a 1.97 GAA and .922 SV%.
General manager Don Waddell has been impressed with Martin’s play.
“Spencer has been an excellent addition to our team,” Waddell said. “He stepped right in and played well for us, and we’re excited to sign him for next season.”
This ensures the Hurricanes will have three goaltenders signed through next season, as Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov have multiple years left on their contracts. Antti Raanta, currently with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Martin is currently in the last year of a two-year contract, with an AAV of $762,500, that he signed with the Vancouver Canucks in April 2022.
Martin has been bouncing around the pro ranks since 2015, making stops with the Colorado Avalance and Canucks before this season. He has also spent a lot of time in the American Hockey League with the San Antonio Rampage, Syracuse Crunch and Abbotsford Canucks.
In 56 NHL appearances, Martin is 21-25-7 with a 3.47 GAA and .889 SV%.
The Hurricanes (40-20-6) are set to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. They are currently second in the Metropolitan Division, four points behind the first-place New York Rangers.
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