RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms on new, two-way contracts with restricted free agent forwards Patrick Dwyer and Michael Ryan.

“Patrick and Michael add important depth to our organization at the forward positions,” said Rutherford. “Both players had productive seasons last year and are capable of contributing at the NHL level.”

Dwyer, 25, made his NHL debut in 2008-09, skating in 13 games with Carolina during three recalls from Albany of the American Hockey League (AHL). He scored his first NHL goal at Philadelphia on Nov. 28, and also appeared in two Stanley Cup playoff games for the Hurricanes, recording one assist. In 62 games with Albany, Dwyer (5’11”, 175 lbs.) ranked second among River Rats skaters with 24 goals and fourth on the team with 40 points. The Hurricanes signed the Spokane, WA, native as a free agent on July 7, 2006. His new two-year contract will pay him $500,000 per season at the NHL level, and $105,000 at the AHL level.

Ryan, 29, played in 18 games with Carolina in 2008-09, recording two assists while averaging 8:12 of ice time. The Boston, MA, native led all River Rats skaters with 25 goals last season, despite playing in just 40 of the team’s 80 regular-season games. He was Albany’s leading scorer at the time of his final NHL recall on Feb. 15. In 83 career NHL regular-season games with Buffalo and Carolina, Ryan has scored seven goals and earned eight assists (15 points). The Hurricanes signed Ryan (6’1”, 188 lbs.) as a free agent on Oct. 31, 2008. His new one-year contract will pay him $500,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level, with $150,000 guaranteed.