His birthday is September 6th. He'll be 26 when it matters. That point still stands.

Also my point is that what's the point of buying UfA years when that's the price? Dumoulin is a fine second pairing guy but fine second pairing LDs are pretty common. I wouldn't have prioritized term over bargain cap hit.
- Victoro311

Are solid 2nd pairing defenseman really that common? Why do teams pay so much money for those guys in UFA. Why don't we have anyone in our system that projects as a solid 2nd pairing guy?

Are solid 2nd pairing defenseman really that common? Why do teams pay so much money for those guys in UFA. Why don't we have anyone in our system that projects as a solid 2nd pairing guy?
- sditulli

Several years of trading away draft picks and prospects?

For buying out ufa years its fine for dumo. A little cheaper since we took term risks.

In a world where Trevor Daley and hainsey - late 30's defenseman who are inferior players get 3+ per year. 4 million is fine for dumo
- sditulli

Difference is these guys are on short term deals........

Several years of trading away draft picks and prospects?
- BINGO!

Ironically, we got Dumo in the exact opposite fashion.

Several years of trading away draft picks and prospects?
- BINGO!

Correct but their really not that easy to develop.

Harrington - failure
Morrow - failure

Granted both were traded away when it became apparent they wouldn't become 2nd pairing guys.

It actually makes a lot of sense to draft forwards and pay your defenseman. Forwards can develop a lot faster.

Any time you give a player who isn't a "top tier" player term like that you will always balk for a moment, but it's really not a bad deal at all.

$4.1M for a top-four dmen? There are top-four dmen on his level or worse making more money.

I still think this means you can move Maatta though. IMO Cole will be a priority next year and likely sign a similar cap-hit.

Dumo/Letang
Cole/Schultz

That's a very good top-four. I think it's an acceptable contract. I guess the only thing I think is that if they gave him six years, they should have been able to keep the cap-hit under $4M, but whatever. It's fine.

That's why Letang's health is so important. These guys are good enough with Letang eating huge minutes. Unfortunately they're pretty ordinary without him.

With all due respect, Letang's health can't be that important... your team just proved that by winning the Cup with him playing only half a season and not at all in the playoffs. I mean, of course the Pens would be better with him than not, but I think the results speak for themselves in this case.

Why is it too late for Dumoulin to be able to develop some offensive touch? Players improve on aspects of their game all the time, its not like he is 30 years old waiting to live out the last dregs of his career. I feel like his best offensive season is coming up, his confidence has to be at a all time high right now. But hey thats just my opinion.

With all due respect, Letang's health can't be that important... your team just proved that by winning the Cup with him playing only half a season and not at all in the playoffs. I mean, of course the Pens would be better with him than not, but I think the results speak for themselves in this case.
- copelal

Letang health is really important. We really did limp to this champsionship. Having Letang healthy really boost our percentage for winning a cup. We certainly had some puck luck this time.

My eye test with Doums is that he should be around 30/35 point guy the way he plays... At only 25 years old I honestly don't think it's that far fetched for him to be that or have better offense years ahead of him... Especially if paired with Letang.

we ended up paying for his beer chugging abilities.

we ended up paying for his beer chugging abilities.
- pensfan024

Pens probably own the best drinking D in the League.

Letang health is really important. We really did limp to this champsionship. Having Letang healthy really boost our percentage for winning a cup. We certainly had some puck luck this time.

So, based on what you're saying, would you agree that the Pens winning this year was a fluke? I certainly wouldn't say that... most teams get banged up - including injuries to key players - either before the playoffs start or during them. And most of the time, those injuries doom them to not winning. If the Pens won this year despite Letang's injury, then it's because the rest of the team was pretty darn good... and according to my logic, it then follows that, as good as Letang has been, there is a limit to how important his presence in the lineup is.

So, based on what you're saying, would you agree that the Pens winning this year was a fluke? I certainly wouldn't say that... most teams get banged up - including injuries to key players - either before the playoffs start or during them. And most of the time, those injuries doom them to not winning. If the Pens won this year despite Letang's injury, then it's because the rest of the team was pretty darn good... and according to my logic, it then follows that, as good as Letang has been, there is a limit to how important his presence in the lineup is.
- copelal

I definitely think it was a fluke. I think the Pens got lucky as (frank). Am I happy about it? Yeah for sure. But they still got lucky lol

RFAs are getting more and more leverage each year. Teams are deciding to pay players through their prime rather than wait until they become UFAs. it may be somewhat inconsequential for the Pens, but it is better to give him this contract now than after another bridge or short term contract. Plus he has been good for them

So, based on what you're saying, would you agree that the Pens winning this year was a fluke? I certainly wouldn't say that... most teams get banged up - including injuries to key players - either before the playoffs start or during them. And most of the time, those injuries doom them to not winning. If the Pens won this year despite Letang's injury, then it's because the rest of the team was pretty darn good... and according to my logic, it then follows that, as good as Letang has been, there is a limit to how important his presence in the lineup is.
- copelal

I think it was some of both. I think the Pens winning last year and returning with essentially the same team helped them mentally. Getting standout performances from both of their goalies saved them. Those types of performances aren't the norm. And there was some puck luck, an early whistle, close offsides, etc. But yeah, the Pens are a really good team and have players who know how to win and are mentally tough. A lot of really good performances from role players. And luck. Like always.

His birthday is September 6th. He'll be 26 when it matters. That point still stands.

Also my point is that what's the point of buying UfA years when that's the price? Dumoulin is a fine second pairing guy but fine second pairing LDs are pretty common. I wouldn't have prioritized term over bargain cap hit.
- Victoro311

I agree, I'd have tried to squeeze out a couple more cheap years through arbitration. But I don't think they'd have saved as much as many think as he'd have gotten mid 3s. And had they waited, he'd be making mid 4s as a UFA. So in a couple years this will look like a good contract, I'd have just rather maximized a little space now. But I'm not too upset, this was fair for a long-term deal.

Why is it too late for Dumoulin to be able to develop some offensive touch? Players improve on aspects of their game all the time, its not like he is 30 years old waiting to live out the last dregs of his career. I feel like his best offensive season is coming up, his confidence has to be at a all time high right now. But hey thats just my opinion.
- eskimomike

...He's a year older than Justin Faulk.

**EDIT** Okay, 6 months. Point is, he'll be 26 by the time the season starts, so he's probably about as good as he'll ever be right now.

That's why Letang's health is so important. These guys are good enough with Letang eating huge minutes. Unfortunately they're pretty ordinary without him.

IMO Maatta is a #5 and Dumo is a solid #4. I can accept Dumo's contract 'cause the price of 2nd pairing guys is escalating, unfortunately I think Maatta is turning into a sizable over-pay.
- madmike71

Probably within the next year with Cole also due a raise probably north of 3M, maybe even 3.5M with a good year, one of the LD may have to be dealt. But I think Dumoulin is actually the safest. Maatta or Cole may have to go. I'd say it's a big year for Maatta.

The Dumoulin contract for me is fine because I have him as the team's top LD. Some choices will have to be made among the role players. They can pay some of them but not all. But for me, Dumoulin is an easy keep. Guys like Hornqvist, Hagelin, Rust, Sheary, Maatta, and Cole are all guys I'd be more likely to move on from. At some point that may even include Kessel, just not yet.

Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Guentzel, Letang, Schultz, Dumoulin, and Murray are my core at the moment. Some of those could change with other additions, but for now those are the guys I fit in first. All are locked in for at least 3 years other than Guentzel at 2. Keep the parts that make sense around them.

If Conor has gotten 4.1 for that term, I would be doing cartwheels
- DeflatedPucks

If sheary gets 4.1 for 6 years, that would be absolutely terrible. Sheary is a player that hasn't proven that he can play away from one of the best players in the world. He constantly falls over himself. He had a great season last year playing with 2 other great players but as soon as he was demoted, he couldn't do a thing. 4 mil for sheary for 6 years would be disastrous waters to be in.

Probably within the next year with Cole also due a raise probably north of 3M, maybe even 3.5M with a good year, one of the LD may have to be dealt. But I think Dumoulin is actually the safest. Maatta or Cole may have to go. I'd say it's a big year for Maatta.

The Dumoulin contract for me is fine because I have him as the team's top LD. Some choices will have to be made among the role players. They can pay some of them but not all. But for me, Dumoulin is an easy keep. Guys like Hornqvist, Hagelin, Rust, Sheary, Maatta, and Cole are all guys I'd be more likely to move on from. At some point that may even include Kessel, just not yet.

Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Guentzel, Letang, Schultz, Dumoulin, and Murray are my core at the moment. Some of those could change with other additions, but for now those are the guys I fit in first. All are locked in for at least 3 years other than Guentzel at 2. Keep the parts that make sense around them.
- Tojo.

If Maatta has another bad year or only plays 2/3 or less, he will probably have negative trade value. In other words, we will have to either take on a bad contract or add value to move him for someone who is of lesser value than who we are adding.

Probably within the next year with Cole also due a raise probably north of 3M, maybe even 3.5M with a good year, one of the LD may have to be dealt. But I think Dumoulin is actually the safest. Maatta or Cole may have to go. I'd say it's a big year for Maatta.

The Dumoulin contract for me is fine because I have him as the team's top LD. Some choices will have to be made among the role players. They can pay some of them but not all. But for me, Dumoulin is an easy keep. Guys like Hornqvist, Hagelin, Rust, Sheary, Maatta, and Cole are all guys I'd be more likely to move on from. At some point that may even include Kessel, just not yet.

Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Guentzel, Letang, Schultz, Dumoulin, and Murray are my core at the moment. Some of those could change with other additions, but for now those are the guys I fit in first. All are locked in for at least 3 years other than Guentzel at 2. Keep the parts that make sense around them.
- Tojo.

One benefit of signing Dumo today is it lowers his cap hit for when guentzel needs a raise. That would be a UFA year for Dumo (so 4.5 or more) and guentzel would need paid.

I definitely think it was a fluke. I think the Pens got lucky as (frank). Am I happy about it? Yeah for sure. But they still got lucky lol
- j.boyd919

There was definitely luck some nights but this recent run was more about clutch moments than anything else. Clutch goaltending, especially first two rounds, and extremely clutch scoring in every round. The clutchness made the bandaged banged up defense overcomable.

Clutchy clutch clutch.

...He's a year older than Justin Faulk.

**EDIT** Okay, 6 months. Point is, he'll be 26 by the time the season starts, so he's probably about as good as he'll ever be right now.
- BINGO!

Not always the case for defenseman... Rob Scuderi for example... Wasn't effective until he was around 30 then was only effect for 3 or 4 years.

Yeah he had a low point total last year but the Pens dressed 15 different defenseman and he was one of the only ones to play at least 70 games. So he was dealing with that every game. If he stays with Letang a majority of the season I see him sniffing around 30 points. Remember that pair didn't get effective until the 2016 run and they didn't get a hell of a lot of time together this year due to injury.

DK sports Pit is saying that Jim Rutherford is back into trade talks for a third-line center.

https://twitter.com/joshy...status/889543839131807744

I can't read, so I'm not sure what it says. Any good info from it?