RALEIGH, N.C.: The Carolina Hurricanes have signed new center Jordan Staal to a 10-year contract extension.

The Hurricanes marked the start of the free agency period Sunday by announcing a long-term deal for the star player they acquired from Pittsburgh in a draft-day trade just over a week ago.

Staal will make $6 million per year under the deal, which begins with the 2013-14 season. He is due to make $4.5 million this season.

Staal has said he turned down a 10-year deal two weeks ago to stay in Pittsburgh, and that decision precipitated the trade to Carolina in exchange for center Brandon Sutter, defensive prospect Brian Dumoulin and the No. 8 pick in the draft.

General manager Jim Rutherford says Staal — the younger brother of team captain Eric Staal — “represents a cornerstone of our franchise for the long term.”

The 23-year-old Staal had career highs with 25 assists and 50 points last season with the Penguins. He was coveted by the Hurricanes, who wanted to add a top-shelf forward to play alongside the older Staal.