Justin Williams: Hurricanes are done losing

Over a decade after winning his first Stanley Cup in Carolina, Justin Williams believes the Hurricanes are gaining strength once again.

"Carolina hasn't been to the playoffs since 2009, so that's a long time," he said after signing a two-year, $9-million contract with the club on Saturday, per Chip Alexander of the News and Observer.

"We're done losing. It's time to climb the ladder and get relevant. I really like this team and like where it's going."

Set to turn 36 before the start of next season, Williams becomes the oldest member of the Hurricanes, and general manager Ron Francis is hoping the man they call "Mr. Game 7" can not only continue to put the puck in the back of the net, but also teach the team's younger players what it takes to become a winner.

"He's shown he can score goals, so we expect him to score some goals for us," Francis said Saturday. "He's won three Stanley Cups in his career. He's shown in the big games he rises to that level he needs to get to to be successful.

"On a team with a lot of young players we think he's going to have huge influence in our locker room, getting those guys to understand what it takes to be successful. It's great he believes in what we're building and what we're doing."

Williams won a Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006, and went on to win two more with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014. Whether he can add another during his second tour of duty with the Hurricanes remains to be seen, but he certainly believes he can help the team move forward.

Beyond excited to begin the season and put the @NHLCanes jersey back on again. Watch out for the canes this year...'

- Justin Williams (@JustinWilliams) July 1, 2017

"I can produce offensively. I mean, that's no secret. That's what I'm here to do among other things, but I think more importantly being there and hopefully being a presence and helping this young talented team kind of take the next step."

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