Jay McClement Contract Extension a Smart Decision by Carolina Hurricanes

Jay McClement's spectacular start to the 2015 calendar year has earned him two more years with the Carolina Hurricanes.

A common name in NHL trade rumors over the past month, McClement—who had said he was bringing more clothes on road trips in anticipation of being dealt—was surprisingly extended by the 'Canes on Sunday. Per TSN's Bob McKenzie via Twitter:

It's an early birthday present for the 743-game NHL veteran, who turns 32 simultaneous to the trade deadline on Monday.

It's also a significant raise for the older player, who signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the 'Canes last summer, but certainly not one that will break the team bank account.

Time Period	GP	G	A	Points
Before Jan. 3	38	1	4	5
Since Jan. 3	23	5	8	13

McClement has scored 13 of his 18 points this season since New Year's Day, including three goals during Carolina's ongoing three-game winning streak.

He's also been a vital contributor in the Hurricanes' rise to No. 1 in the league in penalty killing and No. 6 in faceoffs. McClement ranks 18th among NHL forwards in shorthanded ice time per game and eighth in shorthanded faceoff wins among forwards—a part of his No. 14 ranking in overall faceoff winning percentage.

Despite starting a whopping 60.2 percent of his shifts in the defensive zone (per Hockey Analysis data), McClement is also one of just three 'Canes players with a positive plus-minus rating.

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

General manager Ron Francis, who had already traded upcoming free agents Jiri Tlusty, Andrej Sekera and Tim Gleason in the past week, was evidently able to see around his "trade first" sunglasses when it came to McClement.

The decision to secure a crucial role player and leadership provider on an otherwise rebuilding team—after all, not every player can be young—paints a promising picture about the first-year Francis's ability to negotiate on the run.

Said Francis in the official press release:

"

Jay has proven to be a valuable veteran leader for our club and it was important for us to keep him in Raleigh. He’s one of the league’s best face-off men and has played a key role in what currently stands as the best penalty-killing unit in team history.

"

McKenzie reports that the "sticking point" of negotiations was contract length, as "McClement wouldn't take a [one-year] deal."

That's not surprising, considering the 6'1" center has an incredible history of reliability: he's missed two or fewer games in every season since 2006-07 and two total in the last three campaigns combined. 

The average salary, moreover, is highly reasonable for one of the NHL's elite fourth-line centers. A $1.2 million cap hit is equivalent to that of Chris Thorburn, Shawn Thornton and Mike Brown (the three of whom have fewer combined points this season than McClement alone) and less than fellow centers like Derek MacKenzie, Cody McCormick and Nate Thompson as well.

It's hard to see how the concession to a two-year term remotely negates the exceptionally affordable salary aspect of the contract.

USA TODAY Sports

Sunday's extension secures McClement for the remainder of 2014-15 and two more seasons after.

The Hurricanes' long-maligned fourth line and resurgent penalty kill now boast a promising future with McClement at the helm.

Ron Francis, meanwhile, can take pride in another well-advised trade-deadline decision, sans the trade.

Salary cap information according to Spotrac.

Mark Jones has been the Carolina Hurricanes Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report since 2009. Visit his profile to read more, or follow him on Twitter.