RALEIGH -- Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today that a decision has been made and that the team will go with Justin Peters as the backup to Cam Ward in goal next season.
Rutherford had said either Peters, 23, or veteran Manny Legace would be No. 2 goaltender and that the team would not look to sign or trade for anyone else.
"We've told Manny's agent that we will go with Justin," Rutherford said. "It's the right time for Justin in the process of his development. He improved so much last season and dominated in the American Hockey League (with the Albany River Rats).
"He's a great team guy. He played some very good games here for us and this is the next step for him. He looks like he has a very good future for the Hurricanes."
Peters made his NHL debut last year for the Canes and had a 6-3-0 record, with a 2.83 goals-against average and .903 save percentage. He was 26-18-2 with the River Rats, with a 2.54 GAA and .917 save percentage.
Legace, 37, was signed out of the AHL in November after Ward suffered a slashed leg in a game in Columbus. He will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Legace was 10-7-0 with the Canes last year with a 2.81 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.
"Manny did a great job for us," Rutherford said. "When a team loses their No. 1 goalie like we did, for those two to step in and give us a chance to win every night ... they did a tremendous job for us.
