Zimmerman is now back and ready to play for Carolina this season, as the Impact did not make him an offer. Montreal would have had to pay the RailHawks a transfer fee to sign him, as Zimmerman is under contract for next season.

Zimmerman has spent the last two seasons in Carolina, and was second in the North American Soccer League with 15 goals last season.

Zimmerman is one of 12 players already re-signed by Carolina for next year.

The RailHawks have brought in only one player to date – forward Nicholas Addlery – but more signings and re-signings are expected this week.

Addlery has played for the Puerto Rico Islanders in each of the last four seasons, three of which were under current Carolina coach Colin Clarke, scoring 48 goals.

Addlery was fifth in the NASL last season with nine goals. Addlery also plays for the Jamaican international team and was on the Islanders team that defeated the RailHawks in the 2010 league championship.

Minnesota signs ex-RailHawks

The Minnesota Stars, who were runners-up in last year’s postseason and won the 2011 title, signed the league’s last two MVPs when they inked Etienne Barbara and Pablo Campos last week.

Barbara played in 2010 and 2011 for the RailHawks, while Campos played in 2011.

Together, they combined for 35 goals in 2011. Barbara spent last season in MLS with Vancouver, while Campos played for the San Antonio Scorpions and tied Barbara’s league-record 20 goals for the year.

Campos said in a statement he was looking forward to reuniting with Barbara.

The Stars visit Cary on June 22 in the NASL’s “spring season,” in which the top team will earn home-field advantage in the November title match.