no need to sign benning with the AHL depth

Wasn't it recently agreed upon that Zacha is a better winger than center? I'm sure Wood could be flipped for such a pivot.

Not sure if Carolina can afford Tatar next year: Bear, Necas, and resigning Trocheck will cost more than what Kotkaniemi, Niederreiter, and Trocheck sum up to today. Point remains the same if he's being sent for a B-prospect winger and a mid-round pick however.

Canes need a 2LW, but I don’t think Tatar is the answer to their problems. Someone like Forsberg or Fiala the Canes would look at to be their 2LW, but not Tatar. Tatar would be a good depth piece, but for Nybeck and a third, I think the Canes just pass on that.

I'd move Mercer to Center and Zacha to Wing. Wood probably plays with Bastian and McLeod, like last season. Gaudreau is a really tough call. I would say that he's worth the AAV, but I'd need to see the term. Pretty solid roster.