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 with center Stephane Yelle (STEH-fahn YEHL) on a one-year, $550,000 contract.

“Stephane is a proven winner,” said Rutherford. “He adds depth and experience to the Hurricanes at the center position, and he will contribute to the penalty kill.”

Yelle, 35, is entering his 14th NHL season, and the Hurricanes will be his fourth NHL team. In 2008-09, he scored seven goals, earned 11 assists (18 points), posted a plus-6 plus/minus rating and had a 52.0 percent faceoff-win percentage in 77 regular-season games with Boston. He played in all 11 of the Bruins’ postseason games, earning one assist and averaging 12:29 of ice time. The Ottawa, Ont., native has scored 92 goals, earned 165 assists (257 points) and accumulated 458 penalty minutes in 921 career NHL regular-season games with Colorado, Calgary and Boston. Yelle (6’2”, 182 lbs.) was originally drafted by New Jersey in the eighth round, 186th overall, in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He won the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001, as a member of the Colorado Avalanche.

The Hurricanes will play the first game of their 2009 exhibition schedule when they host the Nashville Predators on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. at the RBC Center. Carolina will open its 2009-10 regular season on Oct. 2, when the Philadelphia Flyers visit the RBC Center for a 7 p.m. match-up. For information on Hurricanes ticket packages, visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.