Hurricanes Add Brian Boucher and Alexei Ponikarovsky

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed goaltender Brian Boucher to a two-year contract worth $1.9 million and left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. Boucher's deal will pay him $950,000 per season. In 34 games last season with the Philadelphia Flyers, Boucher posted an 18-10-4 record, with a 2.42 GAA, and a .916 save percentage. Ponikarovsky appeared in 61 games last season with the Los Angeles Kings, scoring five goals and 10 assists for 15 points. These aren't bad depth signings for the Hurricanes, as both players will bring plenty of veteran depth to their respective positions. Boucher gives the team a solid backup goaltender to starter Cam Ward, while Ponikarovsky brings some offensive ability and two-way skill to the forward lines. The Hurricanes are likely hoping Ponikarovsky will be able to replace some of the offense lost to the team with the departure of Erik Cole to Montreal. However, his offensive game has declined over the past few seasons, so he likely won't be able to replace Cole's offensive output.