Carolina extends Harrison through 2015-16 season

The Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday signed defenseman Jay Harrison to a three-year contract extension that will pay him $1.5 million per season beginning in 2013-14.

"Jay has developed into a consistent, steadying presence for our defense," general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. "He is capable of providing both physicality and offense, and we are happy to now have him under contract for the next four seasons."

Harrison, 29, ranked first among Hurricanes defensemen in goals (nine) in 2011-12 and set career highs in goals, assists (14) and points (23) while playing 72 games. The Oshawa, Ontario, native ranked second on the team in blocked shots (132) and was Hurricanes' nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, which honors sportsmanship, perseverance and dedication to the game of hockey. He was selected by the Carolina chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association as the winner of the Josef Vasicek Award (formerly "Good Guy Award") for media cooperation.

Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (No. 82) of the 2001 NHL Draft, Harrison has totaled 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points along with 200 penalty minutes in 202 regular-season NHL games with Toronto and Carolina. The Hurricanes signed Harrison as a free agent on July 9, 2009, and he has 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 182 games with Carolina.