Hurricanes Add Anthony Stewart and Justin Soryal

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed left wing Anthony Stewart to a two-year contract worth $1.8 million and left wing Justin Soryal to a one-year, two-way contract worth $525,000 at the NHL level. Stewart's deal will average out to $900,000 per season. In 80 games last season with the Atlanta Thrashers, he had 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points. Soryal appeared in 79 games last season with Connecticut of the AHL, scoring three goals and three assists for six points and 220 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. Stewart isn't a bad depth signing for the Hurricanes, as he brings some offensive skill, size, and grit to the forward lines. He will likely land a spot on the checking lines while with the Hurricanes. As for Soryal, he is really just a depth signing and will likely spend all of next season in the minors, providing lots of toughness for Carolina's AHL affiliate in Charlotte.

Thrashers Re-Sign Forward Anthony Stewart

The Atlanta Thrashers have announced that they have re-signed left wing Anthony Stewart to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 77 games last season with Chicago of the AHL, he had 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points and 67 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Thrashers, as Stewart plays with plenty of toughness and has some offensive potential. If he secures a roster spot with the Thrashers next season, it will likely be on one of the checking lines.

Thrashers Sign Forward Stewart & Defenseman Welch

The Atlanta Thrashers have announced that they have signed right wing Anthony Stewart and defenseman Noah Welch to contracts. The exact length and financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. Stewart played in 59 games for the Florida Panthers last season, scoring two goals and five assists for seven points. In 105 career games, he has four goals and eight assists for 12 points. He was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Panthers just prior to July 1, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. Welch split last season between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning after being dealt to the Lightning with a third round pick in the 2009 draft for Steve Eminger. In 40 games with the Panthers and Lightning, Welch scored one goal and one assist for two points. He also appeared in seven games with the Panthers’ AHL affiliate in Rochester, scoring three assists.

Stewart is not a bad signing for the Thrashers, though he needs to prove himself at the NHL level. Once one of the top prospects in the Panthers’ system, he has not been able to play up to his potential at the pro level, leaving him nothing more than a third line forward, although the Panthers probably could have given him more of a shot to prove himself. Stewart has plenty of untapped offensive potential and this could be a great signing for the Thrashers if he can get on his game. Perhaps the change of scenery could be enough to jumpstart Stewart’s career and turn him into the power forward he was once projected to become. Welch is really just a depth signing for the Thrashers. He will likely be the sixth or seventh defenseman on the team next season given their depth on defense.