Charlotte’s situation in goal became clearer today as the Hurricanes have signed netminder Jeremy Smith.

The 28-year-old Smith, picked in the second-round of the 2007 draft by Nashville, is heading into his ninth pro season and has posted a 132-98-24 record, 2.43 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in 265 AHL games with Milwaukee, Springfield, Providence, Iowa and San Antonio. Last season Smith put up a 2.57 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage while going 5-8-0 with the last-place Rampage. He also earned his first NHL playing time, appearing in 10 games with the Colorado Avalanche.

Smith, who put up the fourth-best goals-against average (2.02) and the third-best save percentage (.934) in the AHL during the 2015-16 campaign, has twice been named AHL Player of the Week during his career and led the Cincinnati Cyclones to an ECHL title as a rookie in 2009-10 while earning playoff MVP honors along the way. Prior to turning pro, Smith backstopped the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers for three and a half seasons, playing for new Checkers head coach Mike Vellucci.

With the addition of Smith, the Hurricanes now have three goalies vying for the two spots in Charlotte next season. Per Carolina general manager Ron Francis’ statement yesterday on the Checkers’ goaltending situation, Smith seems to fit the more experienced role, with Alex Nedeljkovic and Callum Booth battling for the remaining job. Michael Leighton, who last season served in a role similar to what Smith is expected to fill this season, signed a two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.