MONTREAL (AP) - The Montreal Canadiens have signed free agent forward Erik Cole from the Carolina Hurricanes and backup goalie Peter Budaj from the Colorado Avalanche.

Cole signed a four-year, $18-million deal, and Budaj inked a two-year contract worth $2.3 million on Friday at the start of the free-agent shopping season.

Cole earned $3 million last season with the Hurricanes.

Alex Auld, the Canadiens' backup goalie last season, signed with Ottawa on Friday.

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