Aho signs 8-year, $78 million contract with Hurricanes

The 26-year-old forward led Carolina in goals last season for the sixth straight season with 36 and was second in points with 67 (Martin Necas, 71), in 75 regular-season games. He tied Jordan Martinook for the team lead with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help the Hurricanes reach the Eastern Conference Final before getting swept by the Florida Panthers.

“Sebastian has developed into one of the best two-way centers in hockey,” Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said. “He’s a tremendous leader on and off the ice who sets a great example for our younger players. We’re grateful that he’s decided to stay in Carolina for the foreseeable future.”

Waddell said July 20 that a new contract was getting close and he was hoping to complete it within the next week.

“He wants to be a Hurricane player for life,” Waddell said. “What happened four years ago now (with the offer sheet), that’s water under the bridge. We made a decision to match the offer sheet and that was the last time we talked about it and now after having him here for as many years as we have, he wants to be a Carolina Hurricane. He likes what we have going on and the coach (Rod Brind’Amour), so those are all positive things.”

Selected in the second round (No. 35) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Aho is fifth in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history in goals (218) and points (468) and sixth in assists (250) in 520 regular-season games over seven seasons. He holds the Hurricanes/Whalers playoff records for goals (23), assists (35) and points (48) in 63 games.

The Hurricanes also signed UFA defensemen Tony DeAngelo (one year, $1.675 million) and Dmitry Orlov (two years, $15.5 million), and forwards Michael Bunting (three years, $13.5 million) and Brendan Lemieux (one year, $800,000), during the offseason. The Philadelphia Flyers bought out the final season of DeAngelo’s two-year, $10 million contract July 15.