Unfortunately after the season Henrique just had, you probably have to add at least a 1st to get Hamilton.

Ritchie finished the season as strong as he ever has (9 pts in 12 games or something like that), and really thrived when he started using his body, but he just doesn't have the value to push the needle across.

As for Kesler, I think you're better off firing him on LTIR and just saving the money/cap space. You can get a similar goalie to Reimer for a fraction of the price. Heck, Miller had similar numbers last year and you could get him back for $1.5ish.

What do you mean? He was our most consistent forward and still put up good numbers on a historically offensively inept team. He might be a little overpaid but it's not like he took a nose dive statistically or anything.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's bad, it's just that there are a ton of teams out there that would love to have Hamilton, and would be willing to send more to Carolina, or at least players that would fill a more significant need. I'd compare Henrique to a Jordan Staal-type player. Very good 2 way center, who can play on the 2nd or 3rd line. The Canes clearly already have that player.

I just feel like if the Canes are moving him (which could well happen), they'll be looking for similar high-upside players that they gave up for him in the first place, that they'll have plenty of suitors to choose from, and that Henrique+Ritchie wouldn't move the needle enough.

I don't disagree. I guess I just struggle to understand why the season Rico just had changes his potential value considering it was right on par with how he's performed in the past. For a team looking for a solid 2-3 center you can do a lot worse than Rico. But I'm with you that the Canes probably would want more than him and Ritchie for Hamilton.

I don't know, I guess I was just a bit down on him because of how the season went. He is who he is, but I figured he'd step up a bit more when the opportunity to put up more offense was there.

You're right though. I'm quite happy to have him as our 2nd/3rd line C, especially since he should help ease Steel in.