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.

Flyers Sign Goaltender Boucher to Two-Year Contract

The Philadelphia Flyers added some goaltending depth to their roster on Wednesday by signing Brian Boucher to a two-year contract worth $1.85 million. The deal averages out to $925,000 per season. This marks Boucher’s third stint with Philadelphia. With the Flyers very close to the salary cap ceiling just prior to the beginning of free agency, it became obvious that last season’s tandem of Martin Biron and Antero Niittymaki would not be returning. The Flyers then set out in search of affordable goaltenders and got those in Ray Emery and Boucher. In 22 games last season as the back-up with the San Jose Sharks, Boucher posted a 12-6-3 record with a 2.18 GAA and a .917 save percentage. This is a decent, affordable goaltending signing for the Flyers. Boucher was excellent in San Jose the past couple seasons and should maintain the same success in Philadelphia. However, the Flyers are now over the salary cap, but have until the start of the 2009-10 season to have their payroll at $56.8 million. Look for them to try to make a salary dumping trade in the coming months. If they can’t, they will have to demote someone to the minors.