Think that is a decent return, prob. could get a little more, like another solid prospect or a 3rd rd pick.

Ah maybe but I truly think RNH deserve top line minutes. He was killer when he was #1c here before McDavid came an I want him to have the best chance to create his own chances. I love RNH in fact he's still my favourite from the big 3 of Ebs and hall. RNH deserve better then 3rd line centre and Gauither is the player Edmonton adores. Big, strong, and skilled. Plus i added the stipulation if RNH scores 55+ points the second round pick turns into a first round pick. I think it's a good deal. We save 6 million and get a kid who's on a ELC and a rfa which is always nice to have

You are looking to move a 24 year old (1st pick overall) center, who I believe if put in the right circumstances has the potential of 60-70 point seasons. (and his current contract for that production is a steal). All through these posts I am seeing ridiculous trade proposals, usually teams looking to dump salary (Montreal, Plekanec), for the player. I think his max value is now, 2017, and there should be a deal that brings back way more than a project as projected above.

Elias Lindholm?

Without looking it up, I think just 3 of your 14 forwards are over 25, and two of those are on the fourth line. Talk about a youth movement! Wouldn't it be better to see if you can't get a Jokinen-type signing or two and keep guys like Benson, Yamamoto and Gauthier marinating in the minors? Seems awful risky to be breaking in so many rookies all at once, especially when you don't have very many veterans to mentor them.

Re: Letestu, I don't think you'll see the same boxcars from him this season, so he won't be worth that contract. Reason being, he sucks at 5x5 and gets almost all his goals on the PP, where he gets to play with some of the best playmakers in the NHL. This year, however, I think he'll lose some of that prime icetime to some of the other right shots on the team: Puljujarvi, Strome and Slepyshev. Without that PP1 time, his output will drop and his value with it. Personally I think the team would be better served by letting Letestu go and replacing him with Gambardella. Yes, another rookie, but a college grad with 1 year in AHL (by then), he isn't coming straight from the Dub.

Overall, great team and exciting future!

you aren't getting Gauthier for RNH, Carolina will at least want to get a look at him in the AHL for a full year before even considering trading him. He is a special type of player: heavy, insanely strong, hard shot, etc. RNH is overpaid as well, and is kind of an unknown at this point, is he a third liner? second? definitely not a 1C which is what CAR needs.