In the famous-last-words department, it doesn't look like there's anything happening on the trade front, where the Canes are shopping Frantisek Kaberle in a cost-cutting move.

Monday's re-signings of three players for Albany (AHL) more or less completed the restocking of the River Rats, but the Canes would still like to add one more center for organizational depth.

One name under consideration? Jeff O'Neill.

Yes, that Jeff O'Neill.

Cross Chad LaRose off the list. Carolina's last restricted free agent at the NHL level signed a one-year, $875,000 contract on Wednesday as the Canes avoided arbitration for the eighth straight summer.

Minor-league defenseman Joey Mormina, who played one game for the Canes last season, has signed with the Penguins.

This isn't big news at the NHL level, but Mormina's departure is big news for Albany (AHL).

When Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford downplayed the chances Ryan Bayda and Keith Aucoin would be back with the team after the season, Bayda wasn't too worried.

He felt like he'd shown what he can do in the NHL as part of Carolina's second-half surge, so he wasn't surprised when the team opened negotiations with him, a process that ended Tuesday when Bayda signed a one-year contract worth $475,000.

With Keith Aucoin gone from the organization, the Canes moved to shore up their minor-league depth at center Thursday by signing Dwight Helminen to a one-year deal.

Helminen spent last year in Finland after playing three seasons for the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford. He also played in the ECHL with Charlotte. Helminen will make $475,000 in the NHL and $100,000 in the AHL.

Keith Aucoin landed on his feet, and not far away. After the Canes decided not to offer him a one-way contract, he signed a two-year deal with the Capitals that's a two-way deal in the first year and a one-way contract in the second.

The Caps have plenty of muscle, so Aucoin's skill should be a nice fit there. Tarik El-Bashir has the contract details on his blog. If negotiations with Brooks Laich continue to stall, there could be an NHL roster spot open for Aucoin this season.

The Canes continued to retool their defense Wednesday, signing defenseman Josef Melichar to a one-year, $1 million contract.

Melichar, 29, spent six seasons with the Penguins before playing last season in Sweden and his native Czech Republic. The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder has seven goals and 33 assists in 310 career NHL games.

Where to begin?

Ryan Bayda, Wade Brookbank and Tim Conboy have all re-signed, Bayda and Brookbank for one year each and Conboy for two.

It looks like Carolina's plan to get bigger on the fourth line ended up where the Canes ended the season, with the AHL call-ups locking down roles.

(updated, 6:14 p.m.)