The Carolina Hurricanes today signed defenseman Bryan Rodney to a one-year contract.

The deal will pay Rodney $500,000 at the NHL level and $55,000 at the minor-league level, and he will receive a $30,000 signing bonus.

"Bryan is a offensive defenseman who sees the ice well and can move the puck," said Canes assistant GM Ron Francis. "He became an important member of the River Rats as the season progressed."

Rodney, 24, led the River Rats with six points (3-3) in the team's seven 2008 playoff games, after going 4-11-15 in 42 regular-season games.

The London, Ont., native joined Albany on an AHL contract on Dec. 19, after a mid-season flu forced the River Rats to sign Rodney and six other players from Elmira of the ECHL to tryout contracts.