Winger Cory Stillman is once again a member of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Three years after being dealt by the Hurricanes to the Ottawa Senators in a multi-player deal, Stillman has been traded back to Carolina by the Florida Panthers, in return for forward Ryan Carter and a fifth round pick in 2011.

Stillman, 37, played 2 1/2 seasons with the Hurricanes from 2005-06 to mid-way through 2007-08, and helped Carolina win the Stanley Cup in 2006, scoring 21 goals and 76 points in the regular season and 26 points in 25 playoff games.

His numbers however have been in decline since then and he's played a more defensive role with the Panthers. In 44 games this season he has 7 goals and 23 points with a plus-minus of +3.

Hurricanes fans shouldn't expect Stillman to regain the play-making wizardry he displayed during his previous tenure with the club, but he should be a good depth addition to their forward lines as they jockey for a playoff berth down the stretch.

Carter, 27, is heading to his third NHL team in 2010-11. He began the season with the Anaheim Ducks, was dealt to the Hurricanes in late-November, and is now headed to the Panthers.

In 50 games with the Ducks and Hurricanes he has 6 points, 44 PIMs and a plus-minus of -4.

Like Stillman, he'll be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, so he'll have less than a month and a half to impress Panthers management into extending him a contract.