The Carolina Hurricanes have their backup goaltender under contract.

The team said Monday that Justin Peters had signed a two-year contract. Peters will be paid $500,000 on the NHL level or $105,000 on the American Hockey League level in 2010-11, with a guarantee of at least $225,000. In 2011-12, it will pay him $550,000 in the NHL or $105,000 in the AHL, with a guarantee of $250,000.

"Justin has developed very well since he turned professional," general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. "He is an important part of our future."

Peters, 23, made his NHL debut last season after a back injury to Cam Ward, the Canes' No. 1 goaltender. He won his first three starts and finished with a 6-3-0 record, 2.83 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in nine games.

Peters, a native of Blyth, Ontario, made his first NHL start on Feb. 6, stopping 34 of 35 shots in a victory over the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

Peters appeared in 47 AHL games last season for the Albany River Rats, the Canes' top minor-league affiliate. He had a 26-18-2 record with a 2.54 goals-against average and .917 save percentage and played for the Canadian team at the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic.

Peters was drafted by the Hurricanes in the second round, 38th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Chip Alexander

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