The Carolina Hurricanes signed their second-round draft pick, center/right wing Zac Dalpe, to a three-year, entry-level contract on Thursday. The 'Canes drafted Dalpe 45th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Dalpe just finished his sophomore season with Ohio State University. He will play out the remainder of the season on an amateur tryout contract with the Albany River Rats, who play at Hershey on Friday, at Binghamton on Saturday and home against Binghamton on Sunday.

At the NHL level, Dalpe will be paid $550,000 in 2010-11, $600,000 in 2011-12 and $700,000 in 2012-13. At the AHL level, he will be paid $65,000 per year. He also received a signing bonus of $262,500.

Dalpe led Ohio State in goals (21), points (45), and power-play goals (8), and ranked second in assists (24), while playing in all 39 of the team's games. Dalpe was named to the 2009-10 All-CCHA First Team. He was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team and was a Top-3 finalist for CCHA Rookie of the Year following the 2008-09 season.