RALEIGH - When Dennis Seidenberg signed a one-year contract Monday, the Carolina Hurricanes added another defenseman to their rapidly growing group on the blue line.

Now they're looking to go the other direction.

Seidenberg's $1.2 million contract -- a hefty raise from the $850,000 he made last season -- puts additional pressure on the Hurricanes to shed salary before training camp opens in September.

While they remain well below the NHL's $56.7 million salary cap, they're above the $45 million payroll budget set by owner Peter Karmanos. Seidenberg's contract gives the Canes 22 players at a total of about $48.5 million, with one restricted free agent left unsigned.

"We'll still look to move a defenseman," general manager Jim Rutherford said Monday. "I would think in the near future, that would end up happening."

The Canes have eight defensemen under contract, not counting minor-leaguers Tim Conboy or Casey Borer, both of whom could end up back in the NHL this season.

With most of Carolina's defensemen either recently acquired -- Joe Corvo, Joni Pitkanen, Josef Melichar -- or signed to new contracts -- Seidenberg, Tim Gleason, Anton Babchuk -- that leaves Frantisek Kaberle and Niclas Wallin as the most likely trade options.

Wallin, who has two years left on his contract at $1.725 million, has a no-trade clause, which he exercised last summer. Kaberle has two years left at $2.2 million.

Carolina's remaining restricted free agent at the NHL level is forward Chad LaRose, who filed for arbitration on Saturday. Seidenberg, on the verge of agreeing to a deal with the Canes, decided not to file.