The Hurricanes' top prospect's father, also named Jack, said Wednesday that the Michigan defenseman has no interest in leaving school, even with a roster spot open to him after Frantisek Kaberle's potentially season-ending shoulder surgery.

"He's enrolled in classes, and he's going to play at Michigan this season," the elder Johnson said. "There's no way this kid is going to walk out on his team at the 11th hour. I understand Carolina's position, and he does, too, but he made the commitment to Michigan, he values the Michigan education tremendously and he's looked forward all his life to this.

"Sure, he wants to be an NHL player, but he also wants to take this one step at a time."

The Hurricanes are making yet another attempt to persuade the 19-year-old sophomore, one of the top two defensive prospects in the NHL, to turn pro on the eve of training camp. Coach Peter Laviolette attempted to contact Johnson on Wednesday to present his recruiting pitch.

As additional insurance, the Hurricanes invited veteran defenseman Jason Woolley to camp Wednesday. Woolley, 37, has played in 718 games over 14 NHL seasons, including 53 games last season for the Detroit Red Wings. The offensive-minded blueliner, who has averaged 35 points per season over his career, was a college teammate of Rod Brind'Amour's at Michigan State.

"With the fact that Frankie is out for most of the season, there's an opening for a skilled defenseman who can play the power play," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "It opens up an opportunity for a couple guys we have under contract who are already on the team, but it also opens the door for a skilled guy like Jason."

Woolley joins Cale Hulse, 32, in camp on a tryout basis. The team will gather for physicals this morning in Cary and take the ice for the first time Friday at the RecZone in Raleigh.

The Canes took Johnson with the third overall pick in the 2005 draft and made three previous attempts to sign him -- last August, before his freshman season at Michigan; in January, after Johnson played for the United States at the World Junior Championships; and this past spring, after Michigan's season ended in March.

At the draft in June, rumors were rampant that the Hurricanes were willing to part with Johnson as part of a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins. That deal would have reunited Johnson with his friend and prep-school teammate Sidney Crosby.

It also would have brought Jordan Staal, Eric's younger brother and the No. 2 pick in the draft, to Carolina amid concerns over Johnson's decision to return to Michigan when he had the option to join a Stanley Cup contender for the playoffs.

The trade never materialized, the Penguins took Jordan Staal second overall and the Hurricanes retained Johnson's rights until after he graduates from Michigan in 2009, although most players of his caliber don't stick around beyond their sophomore seasons.

"Yes, the door is open [then]," his father said. "We do want to put to rest different things we've heard, read or anything like that about him not wanting to be a Hurricane. That's absolutely not true. He's proud to be drafted by them and looks forward to being a Hurricane someday -- at the right time."