Hurricanes add Brendan Smith on 1-year deal

The Carolina Hurricanes signed veteran blue-liner Brendan Smith to a one-year, $800,000 contract.

Smith, 32, spent parts of the last five seasons with the New York Rangers. He registered five goals and five assists in 48 games last campaign.

"Brendan is a veteran defenseman who will add physicality and toughness to our lineup," Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said.

Smith has shown versatility throughout his career, spending most of the 2019-20 season playing forward.

The Detroit Red Wings drafted Smith in the first round in 2007. He spent parts of six campaigns in the Motor City before being dealt to the Big Apple in 2016-17.

The Hurricanes have undergone multiple changes on their blue line this offseason. They lost Dougie Hamilton in free agency and traded away Jake Bean but acquired Ethan Bear, Ian Cole, Tony DeAngelo, and now Smith - who projects to serve as the club's seventh or eighth defenseman.