Raleigh, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes have reached an agreement with newly acquired defenseman Joni Pitkanen, the team announced Wednesday.

The Canes acquired the rights to Pitkanen, a restricted free agent, by trading forward Erik Cole to Edmonton on Tuesday.

Pitkanen, a 24-year-old defenseman, will make $3.5 million the first season, $4 million the second and $4.5 in the third.

Pitkanen made $2.4 million for the Oilers last season.

Pitkanen, a native of Oulu, Finland, scored eight goals and earned 18 assists (26 points) in 63 games in 2007-08 to rank second among Edmonton defensemen in scoring.

Pitkanen (6 feet 3, 210 pounds) has played in 269 career NHL regular-season games with Philadelphia and Edmonton, scoring 33 goals and earning 109 assists (142 points), with 12 goals and 52 assists (64 points) coming on the power play. The Flyers selected Pitkanen in the first round, fourth overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Also Wednesday, the Canes continued to bolster their defense as they signed Josef Melichar, who played professional hockey in Sweden in 2008.  He previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

He has agreed to a one-year deal worth $1 million.