love the concept, no way dumo signs for less then 3.5

I don't think Colorado makes that deal.

PIT needs to include at least one more prime asset.

We just won 2 cup with "lesser" players.

Alzner will get WAY more then $3 mil, which is why he's not returning to Washington. He'll likely fetch 5 plus in this shallow FA market.

Schultz will get more then $4.5 mil as well. They should take this chance to wrap him up for 4-5 yrs while he's still RFA. He's better then Barrie (@ $5.5m ) and won 2 Stanley Cups. Niskanen is making $5.75m. If Schultz gives them a decent discount he'll be at $5.5 or so.

I think you're good on Dumoulin. He's an RFA, so no biding wars to inflate his value. $2.5 to $3 mil. I don't know why people think he's worth more. His +/- is 0 and he's not a point producer.

Duchene ... what does he really bring? At $6m he's 40-50ish pts and good at faceoffs. Bonino scored 3 less points then Duchene this year and he blocks shots, kills penalties, AND he knows the system. Pay him $3.5 to $4 mil w/ a 2 year term and save the rest for other players.

I don't think Colorado would take the deal either. They'll want players to play now and going forward, not Haglin. He's a depth player who's potential has been reached. They'll likely want Sprong, Aston-Reese, along with Pouliot and Maatta and a maybe a pick JUST for Duchene. Pouliot can put up Barries points in the NHL. His defense is questionable. He might be Tyson Barrie if he also belonged to a team that doesn't compete.

The guys they give up are the next up to lead the team into the future. They make other players like Kunitz and potentially Hornqvist, Rust, and Sheary expendable going forward, and at entry level prices. That's how you have a deep team that wins more then one cup. Like Chicago, LA, and Boston have for the past 10 years, and the Pens have in the past 2 years. Keep guys till the get too expensive (or old) and then replace them with youth and we'll be favorites for the cup in the East until the Crosby/Malkin Eria ends.

Why chase names for roles (3rd line center and a second pairing defense men) that can be filled with cheaper players who would require less compensation. Bonino is unlikely to get more then $4mil. They can sign Brian Boyle or Dominic Moore to take Cullen spot and STILL not have spent what Ducchene will cost them in salary, let alone in assets to get him here.

If Murray goes down (like he did pre-game 1 of the playoffs) you think Jarry is a goalie that can carry the Pens to a Cup?