The Carolina Hurricanes today announced that the team has signed forward Jeff Skinner to a six-year contract extension. The deal will pay Skinner $4,350,000 in 2013-14 and $6 million per season from the 2014-15 season through the 2018-19 season.

During a media conference call, Skinner said the Raleigh area played into his decision to want to stay with the Hurricanes. “The area is definitely a big part of it,” Skinner said. “I love living there and playing there. The fans are amazing. I don’t know of any players who don’t love it.”

He added that he adjusted quickly to North Carolina after being born and raised in Canada, and that he liked Raleigh from the beginning. Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford certainly likes having Skinner in Raleigh.

“Jeff is a cornerstone player for our team, and his long-term commitment to the Hurricanes is great news for our franchise and our fans,” said Rutherford. “At 20 years old, he is still in the very early stages of his career, and we felt it was important to ensure he would be spending much more of it in Raleigh.”

Skinner, 20, completed his second NHL season in 2011-12, ranking second among Hurricanes skaters in goals (20) and third in points (44) in 64 games played. The Markham, Ont., native was third on the team in power-play assists (9) and power-play points (13), and fourth on the team in power-play goals (4), despite missing 16 games due to a concussion.

“We didn’t’ get off to the start we wanted last year and dug ourselves too big a hole,” Skinner said. With the player moves the Hurricanes have made in the off season, he doesn’t see that happening again.

“There have been a lot of big moves by our organization,” he said. “It’s exciting to see ownership and management making those kinds of moves. Hopefully we can set it up next season.”

He added that it’s exciting to sign a long-term deal and be able to concentrate just on playing hockey.

The Hurricanes’ first pick, seventh overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Skinner (5’11”, 193 lbs.) won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 2010-11, ranking first among league rookies in points (63), second in assists (32) and third in goals (31). He scored his 30th goal on April 6, 2011, against Detroit, becoming the youngest player in franchise history and the seventh-youngest player in NHL history to score 30 goals (18 years, 325 days). Skinner became the youngest All-Star in NHL history when he skated for Team Staal at the 2011 NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh at the age of 18 years, 259 days, breaking the record set by Steve Yzerman (18 years, 267 days) in 1984. In 146 career NHL games with the Hurricanes, Skinner has totaled 51 goals, 56 assists (107 points) and 102 penalty minutes.

Prior to turning professional, Skinner totaled 141 points (77g, 64a) and 106 penalty minutes in 127 career games for Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In 2009-10, he became the first Kitchener Ranger in 23 years, and the only Canadian Hockey League (CHL) player in his draft class, to score 50 regular-season goals. Skinner has also represented Canada at several international competitions, including the 2011 and 2012 IIHL World Championships.

The Carolina Hurricanes open their 2012 exhibition schedule on Sept. 26 at Columbus, and play their first exhibition home game on Sept. 28 against the Nashville Predators. For information on 2012-13 Carolina Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.