3 mill seams steep for a backup for the canes. Also, what's with the GM letting Hamilton talk around? Why isn't he wooing him over?

No one knows what goes on in negotiations, but I have a couple of theories.
1. Our owner is very strict not paying above what he thinks you're worth
2. Our analytics team has a number that they think you're worth and if you want more they will trade you for assets.

It might be a mix of both, but the Dundon ownership has a history (although short) of trading away players that want more than we are willing to give. Faulk and Hanifin/Lindholm deals are an example of this.

Still need a top 6 scoring piece and probably an improvement over hakanpaa for third pair. Marty shouldn’t come back unless he’s taking a minimum deal and hakanpaa shouldn’t be getting 3 years even if we do bring him back.

Martinook's and Hakanpaa's deals are essentially bridge contracts so that Rees and Keane get the proper development time before they become full-time NHLers. Also, Coleman scores like a top-6 piece and plays a 3rd liner's grind game. He's the ideal fit. When Nino's and Trocheck's deals expire, Jarvis and Bokk should both be ready. Then you can run a team like this:

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen
Coleman-Necas-Jarvis
Bokk-Staal-Fast
Martinook-Lorentz-Geekie

Slavin-Hamilton
Skjei-Pesce
Bean-Hakanpaa
Sellgren

Then, when Staal/Marty/Fast expire and Skjei is (potentially) traded, you can run this:

Svechnikov-Aho-Teravainen
Suzuki-Necas-Jarvis
Coleman-Drury-Bokk
Rees-Lorentz-Geekie
Mattheos

Slavin-Hamilton
Bean-Pesce
Sellgren-Hakanpaa
Keane

I get it but there’s no reason to stick with guys like marty mcginn etc when they should be making improvements around the core every year now to have a shot at the cup. Rolling a similar team out there with a few glaring holes and expecting a different result is silly. They have the cap and can remain flexible by targeting specific UFAs that fill those holes and are also a fit on the team (Tatar, Saad, Oleksiak, etc.)

best case scenario is losing Dougie and losing Gardiner to Seattle without paying