The Hurricanes added more depth to their forward ranks, signing 28-year-old Michael Ryan to a one-year contract. The contract will pay him $475,000 in the NHL and $75,000 in the AHL, with a $100,00 payout guaranteed. He will be assigned to Albany of the AHL.

"Michael is an experienced forward who will add depth to our organization," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said in a team release. "He will be assigned to Albany at this time, but is capable of contributing on the NHL level."

Ryan, a native of Milton, Mass., played 65 games with the Buffalo Sabres over the past two seasons, scoring seven goals with six assists. He had 51 points — including 28 goals — in 50 games with the Sabres' AHL affiliate in Rochester in 2006-07 and played four years at Northeastern University.