The Hurricanes signed the 21-year-old forward to an eight-year, $45-million extension on Thursday, the team announced.

The listed AAV on the deal is $5.625 million, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the actual AAV will be around $5.1 million due to deferred money. Friedman added that these types of deals will be outlawed in the new CBA.

“Jackson had an outstanding rookie season, and we think he is just scratching the surface of the player he can be,” said Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky in a statement. “His tenaciousness on the puck and competitiveness match our team’s culture and we’re excited about his future with our club.”

The deal will begin in the 2026-27 season, as Blake still has one year left on his entry-level contract.

In his first full NHL season with the Hurricanes in 2024-25, Blake recorded 17 goals and 17 assists in 80 games. He added three goals and three assists in 15 playoff appearances.

The Hurricanes selected Blake 109th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft.