The Carolina Hurricanes announced Tuesday that the team has agreed to terms with right wing Tom Kostopoulos on a three-year contract.
The deal will pay Kostopoulos $700,000 in 2009-10, $950,000 in 2010-11 and $1.1 million in 2011-12.
"Tom is a character player who adds grit to our lineup," said President and General Manager Jim Rutherford. "He is a strong penalty killer and plays a high-energy game that will fit our team's style of play."
Kostopoulos, 30, completed his seventh NHL season in 2008-09, totaling eight goals and 14 assists in 78 games with the Montreal Canadiens.
The Mississauga, Ont., native was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seventh round, 204th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. Kostopoulos has totaled 40 goals, 65 assist and 468 penalty minutes in 376 career NHL regular-season games.