(Reuters) - The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Tim Gleason to a four-year contract extension that will keep him with the National Hockey League (NHL) team through the 2015-16 season, the club said on Monday.

The 29-year-old American will earn $3.5 million next season, $4.5 million in 2013-14 and 2014-15 and $3.5 million in 2015-16, the team said in a statement.

In his eighth NHL season and sixth with the Hurricanes, the 2010 U.S. Olympian is second among Carolina blueliners in assists (13) and third in points (14) while playing in all 51 games this season.

(Reporting By Gene Cherry in Salvo North Carolina; Editing by Frank Pingue)