Blanchard

Borer

RALEIGH, NC – Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with left wing Nicolas Blanchard (NIHK-oh-las BLAN-shard) on a two-year, two-way contract and defenseman Casey Borer (BOHR-uhr) on a one-year, two-way contract.

Blanchard, 23, notched 14 goals, eight assists (22 points) and 171 penalty minutes in 76 games for Albany of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2009-10. The Granby, Que., native had his season cut short in 2008-09 after suffering serious injuries in the River Rats’ Feb. 19, 2009, bus accident, but returned to play a full season and eight Calder Cup playoff games for Albany in 2009-10. Selected by the Hurricanes in the sixth round, 192nd overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Blanchard has totaled 33 goals, 34 assists (67 points) and 375 penalty minutes in 202 career AHL games with Albany since turning professional. Blanchard’s deal will pay him $500,000 on the NHL level or $60,000 on the AHL level in 2010-11, with a guarantee of at least $75,000, and $525,000 on the NHL level or $65,000 on the AHL level in 2011-12, with an $80,000 guarantee.

Borer, 24, played two games for the Hurricanes in 2009-10, completing his own comeback from serious injuries suffered in Albany’s February 2009 bus crash. After missing the season’s first 44 games following surgery on his neck, Borer skated in 30 regular-season contests for Albany, totaling one goal and eight assists (9 points). The Minneapolis, MN, native earned one assist and a plus-7 rating in six Calder Cup playoff games for the River Rats. Selected by Carolina in the third round, 69th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Borer has totaled one goal and two assists (3 points) in 16 career NHL games with the Hurricanes. He has notched 38 points (11g, 27a) in 143 career AHL games with Albany. Borer’s contract will pay him $500,000 on the NHL level or $65,000 on the AHL level, with a guarantee of at least $75,000.

The Carolina Hurricanes will open their 2010 exhibition schedule on Sept. 21 at the RBC Center against the Florida Panthers. Carolina will begin its 2010-11 regular-season campaign with back-to-back games against the Minnesota Wild in Helsinki, Finland, on Oct. 7-8, as a part of the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere. For information on 2010-11 Carolina Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.