The Carolina Hurricanes, reeling from a 12-game losing streak and injuries to their franchise cornerstones, signed veteran goaltender Manny Legace to a two-way contract today, two days after Cam Ward was lost for at least three to four weeks with a cut to his left leg. The one-year deal will pay him $500,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 in the AHL.
Legace is perhaps best-known for the five seasons he played in Detroit, which included a 37-win season in 2005-06. He also played for Los Angeles and, most recently, St. Louis, and has spent this season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. But what many don't remember is Legace was an eighth-round selection of the Hartford Whalers in the 1993 draft.
The 36-year-old is 75th in all-time NHL wins with 177, the most by any goalie with less than 350 games played. To add some perspective, his 92 regulation losses are tied for 154th all time. He has a career goals-against average of just 2.38 and a save percentage of .912, plus 23 shutouts (tied for 73rd all time).
While Legace struggled last season in St. Louis (13-9-2, 3.18 GAA, .885 S%) and was eventually demoted to Peoria, he provides a veteran presence in net and won a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2002 as the team's backup.
He will practice with the team today at the RBC Center.
More to come later.