Around $30m tied up in RHD. That has to be a league record.

Team struggles for offence, so you spend $15m on an aging defenceman. Put Pesce with Slavin and call up Fleury or Bean to play LD. You are set on D, spend the $15m on UFA forwards

This team was above league average for goals scored, no need. Carolina are very much a defensively built team. Karlsson is only in his mid to late 20's, and he's still easily the best D man in the league. Adding him to this d core doesn't only had offence, it makes 3 top 4 pairings. Carolina's farm team, The Charlotte Checkers, led the AHL in goals for, there are more inhouse options, you could argue it would be better to go after Goalie bob than EK, sure, but signing EK is better than going after a FA forward. EK - Slavin may also be the best pairing in the league at that point, not even joking

lol this is nonsense.

why would EK sign in the smallest market in the NHL.

This would mean losing Faulk and Hamilton in the next couple years as there wouldn't be cap space to resign them to the raises they will command. You would also be in tough to give Svechnicov his high dollar contract out of his ELC

Hamilton's contract lasts 2 more years, Faulk is likely gone anyway, giving Carolina the space to extend Hamilton, it does work, Svechnikov's deal will be tougher, but thats still 2 years away

Arizona want a word boi