The Carolina Hurricanes have signed forward Seth Jarvis to an eight-year, $63.2 million contract in a move that keeps a top young forward with the team for the long term.
The team announced the deal Saturday, saying that it includes more than $29.2 million in signing bonuses for the No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 draft.
“Seth is a cornerstone player for our franchise,” general manager Eric Tulsky said in a statement. “He took another huge step last season, playing in all situations and displaying the skill and competitive drive that will make him a star in this league in the years to come.”
Jarvis, 22, was a restricted free agent who had grown into a proven contributor on the rise amid Carolina's active streak of six straight postseason appearances. The team had looked into a shorter-term bridge deal as well as longer-term security.
“I was focused on playing hockey and having fun. That’s something we’re going to have to figure out,” Jarvis said during end-of-season interviews in May. “Obviously it’s going to be up to what they want to do with me here and what they see fit. I’ve never been in this situation before, so it’s new, feel it out a little bit.”
The 5-foot-10, 184-pound Jarvis ranked second among team skaters with 33 goals and 67 points, setting career highs in both categories along with power-play goals (13), shorthanded goals (nine) and game-winners (nine). He also had a team-best five goals to go with four power-play points and four assists during 11 playoff games.
He did that despite suffering a torn labrum and rotator cuff roughly 15 games into the season when he fell awkwardly in Philadelphia and later wore a protective jacket to secure the joint. He also broke a finger during the first-round playoff series win against the New York Islanders.
“I think it made me play a little more fearless, just knowing I could play through that kind of pain and still have success,” Jarvis said of the shoulder injury, saying the plan was to recover through rest and rehab.
The Hurricanes' six-year playoff run is the longest since the former Hartford Whalers relocated to North Carolina in 1997. Yet it's been an offseason of change, from Tulsky taking over when Don Waddell left for Columbus to losing prominent players like Jake Guentzel, Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei.
The good news for Carolina, at least, is Tulsky secured deals with another gifted young forward in restricted free agent Martin Necas and top defenseman Jaccob Slavin. And before Waddell's departure, the team also reached a new deal with coach Rod Brind'Amour, the captain of Carolina's 2006 Stanley Cup winner and a former Jack Adams Award winner as the league's top coach.
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FILE - Carolina Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis (24) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. drove in his 100th run of the season with a solo homer in the first inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Saturday.
Witt also hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a run-scoring double in the sixth. He went 2 for 3 to raise his MLB-leading batting average to .333. He also has 31 homers and 102 RBIs.
Michael Wacha (13-7) gave up one run in five innings to improve to 9-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 13 starts since the beginning of July. He allowed four hits, walked three and struck out eight.
The Royals won for the seventh time in nine games since a seven-game losing streak as they try to reach the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2015. The Royals also assured themselves of their first winning season since 2015 by raising their record to 82-67.
Kansas City entered the day with a 2½-game lead over Minnesota for the second AL wild card. The Royals trailed first-place Cleveland by three games in the AL Central.
The Royals had five stolen bases, three by Maikol Garcia and two by Kyle Isbel.
Mitch Keller (11-10) lost for the fifth time in his last six decisions, allowing four runs — three earned — and four hits with six strikeouts and one walk. The Pirates made three errors behind Keller.
After Witt staked the Royals to the early 1-0 lead, the Royals scored twice in the fifth. Adam Frazier tripled past diving center field Oneil Cruz and scored on Garcia’s double before Witt hit a sacrifice fly.
The Pirates scored their lone run in the fifth on an RBI single by Cruz. They are 14-24 since Aug. 4.
Kansas City’s Michael Massey doubled and scored on third baseman Jared Triolo’s error in the fifth. Witt’s RBI double in the sixth made it 5-1.
Bryan Reynolds and Triolo each had two hits for the Pirates.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals: RHP Chris Stratton (right forearm flexor strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list and LHP Angel Zerpa was recalled from Triple-A Omaha.
UP NEXT
The series concludes Sunday with Royals RHP Brady Singer (9-10, 3.42 ERA) facing rookie RHP Jared Jones (6-7, 3.82 ERA). Singer is 1-4 with a 5.17 ERA in his last seven starts.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Kansas City Royals' Kyle Isbel (28) scores around Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal on a error by centerfielder Oneil Cruz on a ball hit by Bobby Witt Jr. during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Joey Bart fouls off a pitch from Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Kris Bubic while breaking his bat during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder Oneil Cruz collects himself after diving for and failing to catch a triple hit by Kansas City Royals' Adam Frazier during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) hits a sacrifice fly off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller, scoring Maikel Garcia from third, during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) rounds third to greetings from third base coach Vance Wilson (25) after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
