Raleigh, NC -- (Sports Network) - The Carolina Hurricanes agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran netminder Manny Legace on Monday.

A two-way deal, the contract plays Legace $500,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level.

The move was necessary since starting goaltender Cam Ward will miss 3-to-4 weeks recovering from a left leg laceration suffered on Saturday in Columbus. Backup Michael Leighton will be pressed into starting duty while the club opted not to recall a goaltender from their AHL affiliate in Albany.

Legace has not played in the NHL this season, but was 13-9-2 with a 3.18 goals-against average in 29 games last year as the backup in St. Louis.

He was 2-2-1 with one shutout for the AHL's Chicago Wolves in 2009-10.

The 36-year-old was originally selected by the Hartford Whalers in the eighth round of the 1993 draft, but did not make his pro debut until the 1998-99 campaign with the Los Angeles Kings.

Serving as backup to Dominik Hasek, Legace won a Stanley Cup with the 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings, then enjoyed his best season in 2005-06 with the Wings, going 37-8-3 with seven shutouts and a 2.19 GAA.

Over 337 career games with the Kings, Red Wings and Blues, Legace has compiled a 177-92-18 record with 18 ties, 23 shutouts and a 2.38 GAA.