Airdrie’s Zach Boychuk is close to home for the summer, and now knows he’s closer to where he wants to be when the puck drops in the fall.

The Carolina Hurricanes announced a one-year, two-way contract on July 7, which will pay Boychuk $600,000 in the NHL or $200,000 in the American Hockey League with the Charlotte Checkers with a guarantee of $250,000.

“I want to have a good year and try and sign for more next time,” said the 25-year-old forward, who signed his first contract with the organization for three years in 2008.

Boychuk was the AHL’s 2013-14 leading goal scorer and ranked second overall in points.

After a career-high tie of 31 NHL games last season, he played 39 games for Charlotte and finished the season tied for fifth on the AHL team in goals and eighth in points.

He said he is happy to be a part of the puzzle in the minds of ‘Canes head coach Bill Peters and executive vice president and general manager Ron Francis.

“I think both Ron and Bill Peters have shown times where they really liked me and brought me in and played me lots of minutes,” said Boychuk.

“A lot of teams could have not qualified me or traded me or wanted me to go somewhere else,” he said. “They’re showing their belief in me that I’m a good forward. They expect me to have a really good camp and make the team.”

Boychuk became the Checkers’ leading goal scorer in franchise history last season, and has 250 points in total, four points behind all-time points-leading teammate Chris Terry, who also signed a one-year, one-way contract with Carolina late last month.

Boychuk tallied three goals and three assists in 31 games with Carolina in the first half of last season.

“I’ve had a lot of success at the AHL level and now I need to have a break out year,” he said. “It looks like there’s going to be some room [on the roster].”

The forward said he is happy to have a job in the fall, whether in the NHL or AHL.

“There are a lot of guys that aren’t signed at all and some of my good buddies are looking for jobs,” said Boychuk. “I feel lucky to get a deal done with Carolina.”

Boychuk is living and training in Calgary for the summer.