Former Quinnipiac captain Chase Priskie signs with Hurricanes

Quinnipiac Athletics

Photo Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics

Jonathan Banks, Men's Hockey Beat Reporter
August 17, 2019

By: Jonathan Banks

Chase Priskie is headed down south.

Quinnipiac’s former captain is headed to the Carolina Hurricanes on a two-year, entry-level contract. Priskie will obtain $832,500 per season he is in the NHL and $70,000 per season he plays at the AHL level, per the Hurricanes press release. The defenseman will receive a $185,000 signing bonus.

Priskie was originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 6th round of the 2016 NHL Draft. The D.C. outfit tried to sign Priskie after his junior season, but the Hobey Baker Award finalist elected to come back to Hamden for his final year.

Priskie’s fit with the Hurricanes makes logical sense. Washington has a logjam of defensemen in their system that would have potentially slowed down Priskie’s path to the NHL.  The ‘Canes, who made a magical run to the Eastern Conference finals last season, have Dougie Hamilton, Justin Faulk, Brett Pesce and Trevor van Riemsdyk as the current right-sided defensemen on their NHL roster. If all goes well, Priskie should have a real opportunity to get NHL time this year.

The Hurricanes have an extremely deep prospect pool in general. This past season, their AHL team, the Charlotte Checkers, won the Calder Cup. Although he is no longer on the team, former Quinnipiac assistant captain Scott Davidson was a member of that roster.

Chase Priskie has been one of the most talented players to play for the Bobcats in recent memory. The Florida native set a program record for defensemen with 39 goals. Not only that, Priskie tallied 116 points and 77 assists in his career, good for second and third in team history among blueliners.

Although he filled the stat sheet unlike most through his four years at Quinnipiac, Priskie’s impact off the ice will be most associated with his legacy. He is well-respected by teammates, coaches and media alike. After the Bobcats took down Arizona State in the NCAA Tournament this past season, head coach Rand Pecknold said of Priskie, “He’s pretty special. In 25 years at Quinnipiac, I’ve been really lucky to have some good captains. He’s right up there as one of the best I’ve ever had.”

Priskie is not the first former Quinnipiac captain to sign for an organization that did not draft him. Connor Clifton, who recently signed a three-year contract extension with the Boston Bruins, was a fifth-round draft pick in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes. Clifton elected to join the Boston Bruins after his Quinnipiac career and took advantage of injuries ahead of him to get into the NHL lineup and contribute right away. He scored in game one of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals.

With Priskie’s signing now official, every senior from last year’s team has inked a professional contract. Nick Jermain will succeed Priskie as the next captain of the Bobcats.

This story will be updated as more details become available.