The Carolina Hurricanes have lost one of their restricted free agents to Jokerit of the KHL. Saku Mäenalanen has signed a one-year deal with the team, with the option for an extension for another year should he choose to do so.
Mäenalanen played 34 games with the Canes last season, scoring four goals and eight points. He also played 37 games for the Hurricanes' AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, netting seven goals and 14 points. He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 5th round (125th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, but never signed an entry-level contract with the team. That left him open to sign a one-year, two-way deal with Carolina in 2018. As a 25-year-old, he remains an RFA and Carolina still holds his NHL rights while he plays in the KHL. With less than $500,000 remaining in cap space, the team would not have the money to sign him to even the minimum NHL salary, which is $700,000 for the next two years.
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