Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today that either Manny Legace or Justin Peters would be Cam Ward's backup in goal next season.
The Canes signed Legace to a one-year, $500,000 contract in early November when Ward was sidelined with a slashed leg. Peters, who also is being paid $500,000 on the NHL level, will become a restricted free agent after the season.
"Those two have made very good cases for themselves and it will be one of the two," Rutherford said. "Both are at different points in their career, and either would be a good fit for us."
At the same time, Rutherford noted it was very important that Ward, who has been out since Feb. 3 with back problems, return and play a few games this season. Ward has returned to practice and is expected to start a game next week.
"We'll feel so much better when he goes back out on the battlefield," Rurtherford said. "We need for him to play some games and see how his back responds. It's still a test at this point.
"The worst thing would be to go into training camp next season, Cam hurt his back again and need surgery and for us to go through this again."
Legace, 37, began the season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL and Peters, 23, was in Albany.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Best option might be to sign both
Sat, 03/27/2010 - 04:35 — drickeSign Manny for a one year deal and start Peters in Charlotte with a two way deal. That way he can continue to get needed net time to develop under the watchful eye of Barraso who can swing over to the Checkers to observe as needed. If at some point Ward's back problem returns, Peter's can come on up. Or, as the season goes on and other teams are looking for goaltending, Manny might be useful as trade bait. For now though, keep your options open.
Dollars
Sat, 03/27/2010 - 10:39 — sittler27I agree that signing both would be an ideal option but it may not fit into the Canes self imposed salary cap.
Both Peters and Legacy make $500K this year. Peters is a RFA so his options are limited but I doubt he will want to sign for $500K..... so for argument sake lets say $850K. Similarly I'm sure there are teams out there who desparately need some goaltending help that would take a long look at Manny. It might take a similar amount or even up to $1.0M to sign him to a one year deal. That means anywhere from $850K to $1.0M you don't have to tack onto signing a higher profile big forward or shutdown D ( since we now have so many talented offensive d-men).
For a big market team with lots of bucks, your thought makes great sense. But it may not work for the tight fisted Canes.
Best option might be to sign both
Sat, 03/27/2010 - 04:34 — drickeSign Manny for a one year deal and start Peters in Charlotte with a two way deal. That way he can continue to get needed net time to develop under the watchful eye of Barraso who can swing over to the Checkers to observe as needed. If at some point Ward's back problem returns, Peter's can come on up. Or, as the season goes on and other teams are looking for goaltending, Manny might be useful as trade bait. For now though, keep your options open.
Ideal situation
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 16:38 — scomilPeters is our goaltender of the future. He's bigger, handles the puck better than Ward, and has a better mentality. He'll be a horse you can ride for the whole year. For now, though, he needs to play daily at Charlotte until it's his time. Ward needs a "backup" goalie who can play effectively for about 25-30 percent of the time. Both can stay sharp that way and Ward might actually make it through a season without having to go on IR. Legace might be the only decent backup goalie who fits this scenario, that we can afford.
Great Topic
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 14:17 — sittler27I love talking about goalies. Its the only position I think you have to have played to really understand. That surely was not me.
Grant Fuhr was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame with a 3.38 g.a.a and a save % under .900 and a mere 25 shutouts. When Bernie Parent was asked if he thought Fuhr was worthy with those numbers he said that stats is for reporters. He stated that it's not the saves you make or the goals you let in..... its at what point in a game you make the key save or let the goal in. In his mind Fuhr was as good as any of the great ones in making that key save at a critical point to stop another team's comeback, preserve a win, or rally his team in a key game.
The issue for next season may be how the Canes management are looking at the season. Do they think this year was a fluke and with both the team core and young players they can make a run or will it be a true rebuilding year. That may determine whether to promote Peters, who really hasn't proven anything yet at the NHL level, or go with the proven veteran where you know what you are getting.
Must-have vs. nice-to-have
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 13:01 — Biff_BeersAs a promising young player, Peters is a must-have. JR will do whatever is required to re-sign him. He's an RFA so the Canes won't have to break the bank to keep him. Legace is a nice-to-have player, and JR will offer him a contract with a small raise. Legace may have played his way to a better deal elsewhere, but, if the Canes can get him for a low price, it would buy Peters more time to develop in Albany, er, Charlotte.
Sign Legace
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 12:56 — HockeydogI wouldn't anticipate he would be hard to negotiate with if JR made him a reasonable offer. This would keep all options open at the goalie position. I think Manny is still fully capable of starting 30 games or more against any team.
My 2 cents
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 12:44 — louis12580If I could give my 2 cents, I would say re-sign Legace (maybe a two way deal) and have Peters start in Albany. The plus is that Legace might be of some value if a team wants/needs a back-up goalie and we already have an idea on how Peters can do. I think there are some teams out there who will try to sign Legace based on what he has done while here. This is yet another reason why it's hard to be a g.m. these days.
now if we
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 11:41 — esteban1949All want complete info...the go to the rats site pull up Peter's stats...and do the same thing for Lagace when he was with Chicago...that is if one wants to compare the 2 side by side...
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !!
Go Canes !!
Legace's one flaw this season.
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 09:59 — dustinlammersHow many games has Manny given up soft goals? He has played well for us in the role he's in, but really he gives up too many soft goals. His glove was a problem earlier this year, and now it looks to be the 5-hole that is soft. Both goals last night were weak.
I love his attitude and what he brings to the table, but in the interest of building a new young team Peters has to be our back-up to Cam next season. And furthermore to that point, Justin should play 20 games or so to ensure Cam doesn't get overworked before the playoffs next year.
Tough Crowd
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 10:42 — sittler27Wow... Manny stops 41 of 43 shots from the league's most potent offense and then Ovie, Semin and Fleischmann in the shootout and we talk about his soft goals? Tough crowd!
I agree the first was soft. Also agree that at 37 he is no spring chicken. But he is battle tested and is as good at making saves down low as anyone. He made some really tough leg saves look easy last night.
No doubt Peters has great potential but he did have a couple of games where you could question his play, especially his postioning. With Cam's back you would assume the Canes will want to limit him to about 50 to 55 regular season games so you need a strong backup. And if we sign Manny we have a prospect to trade in Pogge. Tough call but thats what GMs are paid the big bucks to do.
Look back the history of
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 11:08 — dustinlammersLook back the history of games Manny has played this year and he even admits to giving up bad goals, it was a review of the entire season, not the one game.
The topic is up for discussion and I wasn't bashing him just stating my opinion. I stated he does a lot of good things for the team, but it's better to go with a younger option in my mind.
No Issues
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 11:28 — sittler27Point taken. I didn't think you were bashing him. And going younger or with a vet are both interesting options. But good to have viable options. It could be a lot worse... look at Philly.
btw... show me a goalie who doesn't think he should stop everything. They all say some of the goals they let in were bad/soft goals. Ever listen to Brodeur? As confident (and cocky) as he is, he often tells the press those he let in were soft.
I won't ever confess to understanding what makes goalies tick but I think that part of their sanity is that they have to believe they can stop every shot. Mo said it well the other night..... when it comes to the mental and physcial difficulty of positions, it starts in net, then D and so on. I was a forward so that tells you where I rate.
Both
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 10:28 — GoShelfHave gave up softies. If Ward's fine this will be a tough decision for JR, long-term it's probably better to go with Peters, but with Legace we know what we're getting a lot more than with Peters.
Let me help you out, JR...
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 09:53 — WakeCountyParentPETE DAWG!
Manny's gettin' up there in years...that's not to say he doesn't have some good years left in him, but Justin has shown some Cam-like qualities that will only get better with Tommy B's coaching.
Chip
Fri, 03/26/2010 - 09:46 — esteban1949have you considered setting up a poll and then show JR what we the fans think ?
but never the less we thank you for the information...hmmm Petetdawg a UFA...whoa...
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !!
Go Canes !!