Murley AWOL from Albany

Canes forward left AHL affiliate to join Russian KHL

RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes have suspended forward Matt Murley for leaving the team's minor-league affiliate without approval to play in Russia.

Jim Rutherford, the Hurricanes' president and general manager, said Wednesday that Murley had left the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League to play in the Continental Hockey League (KHL).

Murley signed a one-year contract with the Hurricanes last month. He attended the team's training camp and was reassigned to Albany.

"We talked about it for a few days, he asked if we would release him from his contract and we wouldn't," Rutherford said. "We signed him to a contract and expected him to fulfill that commitment.

"Matt had a good camp for us, and we viewed him as a depth guy. We had no second thoughts about playing him if we needed him, so this is a setback. We've taken this up with the league."

The NHL and KHL have been at odds over the hockey defection of Nashville Predators forward Alexander Radulov. Under contract to the Predators, Radulov signed a three-year deal with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL in July.

Radulov has been found in breach of contract by the International Ice Hockey Federation and was suspended without pay by the Predators. The NHL has sought binding arbitration by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, but the KHL has not publicly agreed to it.

Murley's contract with the Canes would pay him $500,000 on the NHL level or $100,000 on the AHL level, with a minimum guaranteed salary of $125,000.

ROSTER SET: The Canes have set their 23-player active roster for the opening of season. The Hurricanes' final roster includes two goaltenders, eight defensemen and 13 forwards.

Right wing Scott Walker will start the season on the injured reserve list, and right wing Justin Williams is on the non-roster injured list.

Included on the roster is forward Zach Boychuk, the team's first-round draft choice this year. Boychuk is recovering from surgery on his left wrist.