One game into the Paul Maurice regime, assessments are being made. Two of them will come as no surprise to fans: Josef Melichar wasn't getting the job done and the team needs more toughness.

So exit Melichar, who was sent to Albany (AHL) along with Pat Dwyer on Friday, and enter Tim Conboy and Casey Borer, who were called up in their place.

The latest offseason Q&A on the River Rats' Web site is with forward Pat Dwyer, who was called up for one game last season but didn't play.

Three of Carolina's restricted free agents at the minor-league level agreed to new one-year contracts Monday: forwards Pat Dwyer and Joe Jensen and defenseman Mark Flood. Only Jensen played for the Hurricanes last season, appearing in six games.

Dwyer will make $55,000 in the AHL and $500,000 in the NHL; Jensen will make $50,000 in the AHL and $522,500 in the NHL; and Flood will make $60,000 in the AHL and $500,000 in the NHL.