Canes Sign Fora to Entry-Level Contract

RALEIGH, NC - Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Michael Fora to a two-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Fora $650,000 on the NHL level in 2018-19 and $700,000 in the NHL in 2019-20. His American Hockey League (AHL) salary for both years is $70,000 and he receives a signing bonus of $100,000.

"Michael is a good-sized defenseman who had a strong season in Ambri and was used in a top-pairing shutdown role during Switzerland's run at the World Championship," said Waddell. "He adds depth to our defensive corps on the right side."
Fora, 22, completed his third full season with HC Ambri-Piotta of the top-Swiss league, NLA, in 2017-18, ranking 11th among defensemen in scoring with 27 points (6g, 21a) in 50 games played. The Giubiasco, Switzerland, native joined his country's national team following the season, and played in all 10 tournament games as Switzerland advanced to the gold medal game before falling to Sweden in a shootout.
Fora (6'4", 214 lbs.) has totaled 42 points (10g, 32a) in 132 career NLA games for Ambri-Piotta. Prior to beginning his NLA career, he spent one year in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with Kamloops, ranking second among Blazers defensemen in scoring with 34 points (5g, 29a) in 60 games during the 2014-15 season. He also represented Switzerland at the 2015 World Junior Championship, earning two assists in six games.