Erik Cole stays with Hurricanes, agrees to 2-year, $5.8M contract

‘Canes re-sign Cole for 2 years

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes are keeping Erik Cole, agreeing Wednesday to a two-year deal with the physical forward.

Cole will make $2.8 million this upcoming season and $3 million in 2010-11.

The Hurricanes’ third-round pick in 1998 took a pay cut to stay in Raleigh. He made $4 million last season while completing a three-year deal he signed in 2006.

Carolina dealt Cole to Edmonton last summer, then reacquired the fan favorite at the trade deadline. His return re-energized the Hurricanes — and All-Star Eric Staal in particular — down the stretch, with points in 15 of the final 17 games in the regular season. He struggled in the playoffs with no goals and five assists in 18 games.

Cole had 18 goals and 24 assists in 80 regular-season games.

“Erik clearly had an instant impact on our team when he returned to Carolina,” general manager Jim Rutherford said. “He has been an important piece for our franchise for a long time, and we are pleased that he has decided to remain at home in Raleigh.”

Cole became the second of Carolina’s potential free agents to re-sign this week. Playoff hero Jussi Jokinen previously signed on for two more years.

Also Wednesday, the Hurricanes signed restricted free agent forwards Patrick Dwyer and Michael Ryan to two-way contracts.

Dwyer’s two-year contract will pay him $500,000 per season at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. Ryan’s one-year contract will pay him $500,000 in the NHL level and $100,000 in the AHL, with $150,000 guaranteed.