Ryan Wilson: How important is keeping Pascal Dupuis? The Penguins face one of their most important off season decisions with Pascal Dupuis.

They need to keep him, plain and simple

Huge mistake if they let him walk. Will never win any awards, but he seems to have great chemistry with the rest of the team.

Dupuis is a real good hockey player. Don't think the pens let him walk. He should get 4 mil for 3 years. If I'm the pens I take him at 4 years at 3.5 if he'll sign. Here's to hoping he walks!

Great read Gunner.

They need to get a deal done with Dupuis and get it done before he hits the open market. Once there, he will see offers in the 4-5 mil range. I think he can be had for 2.5-3 mil if Shero gives him an extra year. A 4 year, 11 Mil contract would give Dupuis a good raise, but not limit Shero on what he can do cap wise. It is alluring to Dupuis to take a hometown discount not only be on a contender, but to be able to retire a Penguin.

Ryan Wilson: How important is keeping Pascal Dupuis?
The Penguins face one of their most important off season decisions with Pascal Dupuis.
- Ryan_Wilson

probably more important than resigning any of the ppl the pens aquired at the deadline, its better to be loyal to a guy who's proven to be a valuable piece in your team success imo

what they SHOULD do is try to bring up one of the young D see if they can QB a pp (pens have alot of offensive D prospects no?) and if so, trade Letang for a bunch of D that actually plays D

Ryan Wilson: How important is keeping Pascal Dupuis?
The Penguins face one of their most important off season decisions with Pascal Dupuis.
- Ryan_Wilson

Not important at all. We will gladly take him off your hands

probably more important than resigning any of the ppl the pens aquired at the deadline, its better to be loyal to a guy who's proven to be a valuable piece in your team success imo

what they SHOULD do is try to bring up one of the young D see if they can QB a pp (pens have alot of offensive D prospects no?) and if so, trade Letang for a bunch of D that actually plays D
- Habitants98

Canadians have any interest in Letang?? Could see a Gorges/Letang deal with other pieces thrown in.

probably more important than resigning any of the ppl the pens aquired at the deadline, its better to be loyal to a guy who's proven to be a valuable piece in your team success imo

what they SHOULD do is try to bring up one of the young D see if they can QB a pp (pens have alot of offensive D prospects no?) and if so, trade Letang for a bunch of D that actually plays D
- Habitants98

If they trade Letang (which will be a mistake, but possibly a foregone conclusion with the Malkin extension), I'd think they'd rather acquire some forwards who can compete with the Bruins of the world. Some guys who can control the puck in the corners/along the boards and can come away with it. I'm not talking about fighters/goons, but just some guys who are stronger/bigger (Lucic lite types). The Penguins are a good team, but when their finesse game was taken away this year, they seemed unable to get anything going.

Aside from Game 2, I thought the defense was actually pretty good. But when you constantly are killing yourself just to keep possession in the offensive zone, the other team's going to be able to keep high pressure on you. Get some guys who can make life hell for the opposition defense and not lead to easy transitions for the other team and the D won't be worn out by the start of the 3rd.

Great read Gunner.

They need to get a deal done with Dupuis and get it done before he hits the open market. Once there, he will see offers in the 4-5 mil range. I think he can be had for 2.5-3 mil if Shero gives him an extra year. A 4 year, 11 Mil contract would give Dupuis a good raise, but not limit Shero on what he can do cap wise. It is alluring to Dupuis to take a hometown discount not only be on a contender, but to be able to retire a Penguin.
- cap1681

$2.5 to 3M/year, 3 year contract. He'll take it.

If they trade Letang (which will be a mistake, but possibly a foregone conclusion with the Malkin extension), I'd think they'd rather acquire some forwards who can compete with the Bruins of the world. Some guys who can control the puck in the corners/along the boards and can come away with it. I'm not talking about fighters/goons, but just some guys who are stronger/bigger (Lucic lite types). The Penguins are a good team, but when their finesse game was taken away this year, they seemed unable to get anything going.

Aside from Game 2, I thought the defense was actually pretty good. But when you constantly are killing yourself just to keep possession in the offensive zone, the other team's going to be able to keep high pressure on you. Get some guys who can make life hell for the opposition defense and not lead to easy transitions for the other team and the D won't be worn out by the start of the 3rd.
- jmatchett383

I am of the belief that the Penguins were the ones who took their finesse game away. They got caught up in trying to outhit the Bruins instead of out skating Boston.

Most of the reasons for the lack of zone time stem from being unable to gain controlled zone entires against Boston's excellent neutral zone defense. The Penguins decided to use a less skilled more physical defense unit, that ultimately was the wrong decision in my opinion. Without utilizing defensemen with better puck skills than an Engelland/Murray pairing, the Penguins were unable to attack neutral zone with precision and speed.

They don't need a Lucic, they just need to play to their strengths.

Solid Gunn..

Buffalo will sign him to a 5 year $28M deal.

Solid Gunn..

Buffalo will sign him to a 5 year $28M deal.


- Pairo11

Would still work out better than the Leino deal, haha.

$2.5 to 3M/year, 3 year contract. He'll take it.
- Orpik44

Like i said, i think you add an extra year onto that, he will take a little less money. 2.75 for 4 years is a good contract for Dupuis. He could get more on the open market, but the extra year keeps him in a Pens sweater.

Three years will be the minimum. If I'm the Pens, my max is 3 years / $10 million or 4 years / $13 million.

I don't have a problem with him getting a fourth year... He never misses games, and his fitness and skating ability will allow him to be a contributing player for those 4 years. Even if he's a top winger for two years and a 3rd liner for the last two years, he will still be a valuable, versatile player for the next four seasons (PK and can be moved up in case of injury or whatever).

Pascal Dupuis and Marc-Andre Fleury share the same agent (Allan Walsh). Gotta wonder if any of the organizational pumping of MAF's tires has something to do with making an agent feel better going into negotiations with another one of his clients...

$2.5 to 3M/year, 3 year contract. He'll take it.
- Orpik44

He will definetly be offered more for other teams

He will definetly be offered more for other teams
- NYI44

But other teams don't have a Sidney Crosby that he plays with.

if he demands a 4 year deal I might hesitate.. but 3 at 10 or 11 mil... go for it. You are absolutely right we wont find a better replacement for dupius at a cheaper price. I do disagree with you top 6 though... If Kunitz was going to play with Malkin I think he would have last playoffs.. Bennett will probably play with Malkin. Not saying thats the way it should be, just probably the way it will be. I also would prefer, much to the disagreement of others on this page, that Bennett cut his teeth as a third line first, if cap restraints allowed it. I hope the sign Dupius... my #9 Jersey is one click away from being ordered!

Duper is a must unless he has a rediculous request.

if he demands a 4 year deal I might hesitate.. but 3 at 10 or 11 mil... go for it. You are absolutely right we wont find a better replacement for dupius at a cheaper price. I do disagree with you top 6 though... If Kunitz was going to play with Malkin I think he would have last playoffs.. Bennett will probably play with Malkin. Not saying thats the way it should be, just probably the way it will be. I also would prefer, much to the disagreement of others on this page, that Bennett cut his teeth as a third line first, if cap restraints allowed it. I hope the sign Dupius... my #9 Jersey is one click away from being ordered!
- ChrisMS

Here's my thinking though.... if you are going to sign him for 3 at $11 million, why not sign him for 4 at $13 million? You basically get that last year for $2 million, plus it lowers the cap hit from $3.66 to $3.25.

He will definetly be offered more for other teams
- NYI44

There is always someone that will overpay (Buffalo) but let's face it.. He'll be 35 by the time his current deal is up so this will be his last deal. He's got to be comfortable playing in Pitt with the roster they have and I'm sure he likes it there. He'll take a bit less to stay than go elsewhere. Unless someone throws him a "Leino Deal" he's not going anywhere.

IMO Shero will focus on guys like Dupuis and shift his assets like Letang out while their a hot commodity. He puts up huge #'s and still has a year left, PP QB, young.

Dupuis stays and Letang will be headed for Montreal.

But other teams don't have a Sidney Crosby that he plays with.
- jmatchett383

rofl

I am of the belief that the Penguins were the ones who took their finesse game away. They got caught up in trying to outhit the Bruins instead of out skating Boston.

Most of the reasons for the lack of zone time stem from being unable to gain controlled zone entires against Boston's excellent neutral zone defense. The Penguins decided to use a less skilled more physical defense unit, that ultimately was the wrong decision in my opinion. Without utilizing defensemen with better puck skills than an Engelland/Murray pairing, the Penguins were unable to attack neutral zone with precision and speed.

They don't need a Lucic, they just need to play to their strengths.
- Ryan_Wilson

I get the impression the Pens think they are a finesse team but the truth is they do best when they go and crash the net. Also a net presence and shots from the points. It takes a quick side step to get a shot off and defensive awareness of what is happening if it's blocked. This failure to go to the net was depressing. Not playing Despres and going only with vets also is depressing.

But other teams don't have a Sidney Crosby that he plays with.
- jmatchett383

Somebody will overpay him, but if he's smart he would stay with the Penguins because he has success there every year because of Crosby

There is always someone that will overpay (Buffalo) but let's face it.. He'll be 35 by the time his current deal is up so this will be his last deal. He's got to be comfortable playing in Pitt with the roster they have and I'm sure he likes it there. He'll take a bit less to stay than go elsewhere. Unless someone throws him a "Leino Deal" he's not going anywhere.

IMO Shero will focus on guys like Dupuis and shift his assets like Letang out while their a hot commodity. He puts up huge #'s and still has a year left, PP QB, young.

Dupuis stays and Letang will be headed for Montreal.
- Pairo11

I agree. Just saying that somebody will pay a lot but he should definetly stay a Penguin