The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has acquired forwards Stephane Yelle and Harrison Reed from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Cedric McNicoll and a sixth-round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft.

“Stephane is a proven winner who will bring veteran leadership to our club,” said Avalanche General Manager Greg Sherman. “He is very familiar with our organization and will add depth to our penalty killing units.”

Yelle, a 14-year NHL veteran, has played in 59 games for Carolina this season, recording seven points (4g/3a). The Ottawa native returns for his second stint with the Avalanche, where he was a member of two Stanley Cup championship teams (1996, 2001).

Originally drafted by New Jersey in the eighth round (186th overall) of the 1992 Entry Draft, Yelle was acquired by the Quebec Nordiques on June 1, 1994, and made his NHL debut with Colorado during the 1995-96 campaign. The 6-foot-2, 182-pound center would go on to spend the first seven years of his NHL career with the Avalanche, totaling 143 points (54g/89a) in 505 games with Colorado.

Overall, Yelle has appeared in 980 NHL contests with Colorado, Calgary, Boston and Carolina, totaling 264 points (96g/168a).

Reed, 22, has spent most of the 2009-10 season with the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League, where he has posted six points (1g/5a) in 49 games. The Newmarket, Ontario native has also appeared in nine games with the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League, tallying 13 points (8g/5a).

Carolina’s second selection (third round, 93rd overall) in the 2006 Entry Draft, Reed began his professional career in 2008-09, recording nine points (5g/4a) in 70 games for Albany while also totaling two points (1g/1a) in one appearance with Florida.