Things went from bad to worse for the struggling Carolina Hurricanes over the weekend, losing starting goaltender Cam Ward for at least 3-4 weeks after he suffered a laceration to his upper left leg during a 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. 

With little confidence in backup Michael Leighton to carry the load and few options in their farm system the Hurricanes delved into the unrestricted free agent market today, signing former St. Louis Blues netminder Manny Legace to a one-year, two-way contract worth $500K at the NHL level. 

Legace, 36, was playing in the AHL for the Chicago Wolves. TSN reports his record was 2-2 with a 3.21 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage. 

Those aren't numbers likely to inspire Hurricanes fans, who've witnessed their club stumble to a 2-11-3 record, going winless in their last ten games (0-8-2) but given the limited options available to GM Jim Rutherford there wasn't much else he could do. 

Legace does have good career NHL numbers (177-92-36, 2.38 GAA, .912 SP) but he struggled in his final season with the Blues in 2008-09 and lost his starter's job to Chris Mason, finishing the season with the AHL's Peoria Rivermen.

This will likely be his last best chance to prove himself at the NHL level as the Hurricanes hope he can regain his form as they struggle to right a season that has thus far gone horribly wrong.