Hurricanes sign forward Brandon Sutter

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - The Carolina Hurricanes maintained one of the NHL's top dynasties by signing 2007 first-round draft pick Brandon Sutter to a three-year contract, the team said on Wednesday.

Sutter, 19, has just completed his third full year with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, finishing his final junior season with team-highs in goals (26) and points

(49).

He is the son of former NHL player and current New Jersey Devils head coach, Brent Sutter, and is the ninth member of his family drafted into the NHL.

"We're excited about signing Brandon," Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. "We look forward to his continued development, and watching him work his way toward playing with the Hurricanes."

The contract will pay Sutter $787,500 per season at the NHL level or $65,000 per season at the minor-league level, beginning with the 2008-09 campaign, the team said.

Sutter, a forward, received a $262,500 signing bonus and was to report Wednesday to Carolina's top minor-league affiliate, the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League.

(Writing by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Ken Ferris)