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. 

Much-traveled forward Dean McAmmond joined his tenth NHL team on November 6, signing a one-year, two-way contract (believed worth the league minimum of $500k at the NHL level) with the New Jersey Devils. 

McAmmond, 36, had been playing for the Devils AHL affiliate on a minor league tryout contract. He's being added as a short-term replacement for checking line center Rob Niedermayer, who is currently on injured reserve with an "upper body injury". 

In his previous stops over his 16 year NHL career McAmmond played for the Chicago Blackhawks (twice), Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames (twice), Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Ottawa Senators and NY Islanders. 

His best season came in 2001-02 with the Flames, scoring 21 goals and 51 points in 71 games with Calgary. Devils fans shouldn't expect those kind of numbers from him this season as he's solely a checking line forward these days. 

The Atlanta Thrashers contract talks with superstar Ilya Kovalchuk continue to dominate coverage of the club but they've also wasted little time re-inking one of their offensive stars. 

On Tuesday the Thrashers announced the re-signing of versatile forward Rich Peverley to a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension, breaking down as an affordable $1.3 million per season against their cap. 

Non-Thrashers fans probably wonder what's so important about this move, until they take a look at Peverley's stats. 

An undrafted player who signed with the Nashville Predators in January 2007, his tenure with the Predators was undistinguished, scoring only 7 goals and 20 points in 73 games spread over parts of the previous two seasons, as he was used on Nashville's checking lines. 

His career however took a sharp turn for the better late last season, when the Thrashers claimed him off waivers in January 2009 from the Predators. 

In 39 games with the Thrashers last season Peverley exploded for 13 goals, 22 assists and 35 points. This season he's currently second in scoring behind Kovalchuk, with four goals and seven points, with three of those goals coming on the PP. 

This move has also led to speculation it could have a positive impact upon the club's talks with Kovalchuk although that remains to be seen. In the meantime the Thrashers deserve credit for retaining a key players for an affordable price. 

Bet the goal-starved Predators management wish they could've had Peverley back now. 

The Boston Bruins locked up one of their rising young forwards to a new contract extension but it could also put them in a tight squeeze for next season's payroll. 

Rugged power forward Milan Lucic, who was eligible for restricted free agency next summer, re-signed a three-year, $12.25 million contract extension with the Bruins, which counts as $4.083 million per season against their cap starting in 2010-11. 

It's a worthwhile signing by the Bruins as the 21-year-old Lucic is a growing force as a power forward and could become one of the best in the league over the next three-five seasons, and it was best for management to get him under contract now rather than risk a potential contract hassle similar to that they had with winger Phil Kessel, whom they wound up shipping to the Toronto Maple Leafs last month. 

Unfortunately it also pushes their payroll for next season to over $41 million committed to 11 players, and if the salary cap remains stagnant or declines. The Bruins have several key players eligible for UFA status next season (Marc Savard, Shawn Thornton and Derek Morris) plus Blake Wheeler, Mark Stuart and Tuukka Rask are eligible for restricted free agent status. 

If the Bruins hope to retain most or all of them it could mean shipping out some other players to free up the necessary roster space. 

Don't expect Lucic however to be among the trade bait. 

- The Montreal Canadiens dipped into a limited unrestricted free agent pool to find a short-term replacement for injured star defenseman Andrei Markov, inking former Minnesota Wild blueliner Marc-Andre Bergeron to a one-year, $750K contract. 

Bergeron will report to their farm club in Hamilton for conditioning and is expected to join the Habs later this month. 

The 29-year-old has good offensive skills, including a wicked point shot, which should come in handy in power-play situations for the Canadiens. Bergeron had 14 goals and 32 points in 72 games with the Wild. 

He has however faced criticism for his defensive play, which explains why he's now on his fifth NHL team since 2006-07. 

As a short-term replacement however his experience in offensive situations should prove beneficial for the Canadiens until Markov returns early next year. 

- Dallas Stars new general manager Joe Nieuwendyk has been wasting little time in re-signing his key players to long-term contract extensions. 

Days after re-upping defenseman Stephane Robidas to a long-term deal Niewendyk re-signed winger Loui Erikssen to a four-year contract worth $4.25 million per season. 

Niewendyk is following the trend of his peers in handing out big bucks for potential. The 24-year-old Eriksson had a breakout performance in 2008-09 with 36 goals and 63 points and was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise forgettable season for the Stars. 

If the young Swede continues on that offensive pace he'll be well worth that new salary, which starts in 2010-11. 

- Scratch yet another defenseman off next summer's list of unrestricted free agents, as the Columbus Blue Jackets re-sign Rostislav Klesla to a new long-term deal. 

Klesla, 27, is the only remaining player from the Jackets inaugural season and was their first ever first round draft pick, going fourth overall in the 2000 entry draft. 

In a career where he's suffered through growing pains and injuries Klesla nevertheless emerged as a reliable second-pairing defenseman and was recently rewarded with a four-year deal at $2.95 million per season starting in 2010-11.

- Unrestricted free agent forward Dominic Moore is finally off the market.

The Florida Panthers announced Monday Moore had agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract with them.

Moore, 29, potted career highs in goals (13), assists (32) and points (45) last season split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres.

This deal is considerably less than what the Moore camp hoped to find via this summer's UFA market. It was believed he was traded by the Maple Leafs because he was seeking around $2.5 million per season.

If however Moore can prove with the Panthers this season that last year's numbers weren't a fluke he might find a more lucrative contract next summer either with the Panthers or another team.