Hurricanes Sign William Håkansson to Three-Year Entry-Level Deal

The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman William Håkansson to a three-year entry-level contract on Wednesday, July 15. Håkansson was selected 51st overall in the 2026 NHL Draft after Carolina traded out of the first round.

The deal pays Håkansson $850,000 at the NHL level in 2026-27, $900,000 in 2027-28, and $950,000 in 2028-29. He will earn $87,500 per season in the AHL. The contract includes $288,000 in signing bonuses and a potential $40,000 games-played bonus.

"William proved he could hold his own playing with men in the SHL last season," general manager Eric Tulsky said in a statement. "We're excited to support his continued development."

Håkansson, 18, played 22 games for Luleå HF in Sweden's top league during the 2025-26 season, recording two assists. He also appeared in 16 games on loan to Almtuna IS of the HockeyAllsvenskan, where he scored two goals and added four points.

The 6-foot-5, 216-pound blueliner met with media at Carolina's development camp earlier this month. "Tough, big D," Håkansson said of his style. "Good reach. Try to use my stick a lot and move the puck forward. Close plays, keep a good gap. Not too hard, pretty simple game: get the puck forward and don't let in any goals."

Associate general manager Darren Yorke described Håkansson at the draft as "a player that we've known very well, playing in the international events and in Sweden. Big, rangy defenseman that skates well and has nastiness."

Håkansson said he models his game after Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin. He joins a prospect pool that includes five of the Hurricanes' six 2026 draft picks attending development camp.