'Canes, Markov come to terms

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to terms with defenseman Danny Markov on a three-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Carolina acquired the restricted free agent in a draft-day trade with Phoenix for former first-round draft picks David Tanabe and Igor Knyazev.

Contract talks broke off last month after the defenseman turned down Carolina's three-year offer. He had threatened to play in his native Russia; he helped the team win a bronze medal in the 2002 Olympic Games.

Markov, 27, had four goals and 16 assists in 64 regular-season games last season, his sixth in the NHL. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Markov has 19 goals, 82 assists, 240 penalty minutes and a plus-19 plus/minus rating in 336 career regular-season games.

The agreement with Markov "improves our team at a very important position," said Jim Rutherford, team president and general manager. "His ability and determination will make our defense more difficult to play against."

Markov, who made $1.4 million last year, was part of the Hurricanes' efforts to improve a defense that allowed the third-most goals in the Eastern Conference last season.

In July, the Hurricanes acquired defenseman Bob Boughner from the Calgary Flames for a fourth-round draft pick in 2004. The team also signed free-agent Glen Wesley, who helped lead the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup finals in 2002.

 

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