Hurricanes keep McClement with two-year extension

Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - The Carolina Hurricanes and center Jay McClement agreed to a two-year contract extension on Sunday.

McClement, in his first year with the Hurricanes, will earn $1.3 million next season and $1.1 million for the 2016-17 campaign.

"Jay has proven to be a valuable veteran leader for our club and it was important for us to keep him in Raleigh," said Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis in a statement. "He's one of the league's best face-off men and has played a key role in what currently stands as the best penalty-killing unit in team history."

McClement scored twice in Saturday's 5-3 win over the New York Islanders and has totaled six goals with 12 assists for 18 points in 61 games this season. He has won 55.3 percent of his face-offs, tops on the team and good for 14th in the NHL.

The 31-year-old defensive-minded veteran has 81 goals and 141 assists for 222 points in 743 NHL games with St. Louis, Colorado, Toronto and Carolina.