Quoting: pens1991
Because this accomplishes absolutely nothing that Dubas said was the plan moving forward.
1. They're not going to retain on someone like Smith. Goal is to open up more cap space for the summer. Not to mention given the year he's had Dallas is not going to send a prospect, Dellandrea and a 1st for Smith even at 50%.
2. They want either a young player that can play right now for Jake, or an A+ prospect, Brisson is neither.
The picks would be used to retool in the summer, they're not rebuilding yet.
To me, Brisson seems like the EXACT kind of prospect Dubas would look to go after. He's an uber skilled, speedy, defensively capable forward whose versatility and upside make him a valuable addition to the team. His most valuable asset is the thing Kyle Dubas covets most; hockey IQ. Korczak's inclusion is also pretty notable, his 2 way game and mobility would make him a very solid long term addition to the Penguins blue line. This years draft is loaded with defensive talent, and getting those two picks out of Vegas would go quite a long way to bolstering the Pens prospect depth.
For Smith, I think the Stars should strongly consider that deal. I will concede that a 1st is a little steep, but it is the going rate on the market. Dellandrea seems to be just a warm body in Dallas despite his obvious upside. Damiani is of no use to the Stars, and the pick will be late. It's really not that far off.
The Pens would have an unbelievable amount of flexibility this offseason. They could easily go out and get a few of the biggest names on the market. You could sign Reinhart at 8.5m - 9m, a guy like Duchene at 4m, and still be comfortable enough to resign the expiring players and address your backup goaltender. If Dubas is smart, he'll sell off his valuable assets and prep for next season. There is no change the current Pens team will be serious contenders. Hell, it looks more than likely that you guys are missing the playoffs again. I know everyone gets all excited when they hear that Dubas wants a Giroux-like return for Guentzel, but just remember what Tippett was for the Cats at the time of that deal; a healthy scratch with terrible analytics