Some terrific, transparent stuff from Kyle Dubas today in his one-on-one with Taylor Haase up in Buffalo, N.Y., notably that he's not done amassing future assets, that Boko Imama's the only pending free agent he's determined to bring back, that he's still banking on goaltending in bulk for another year, and a ton more.

Here's all I have to add, all on my own: Bryan Rust and/or Rickard Rakell don't need to go anywhere for any of this to fly.

Prospects are vital in this process, but they're no sure thing, as Vasily Ponomarev's about to show everyone by bolting for Russia. They can become an absolute zero in a snap. Whereas Rust and Rakell, in addition to being damned good, in-their-prime, total-team-focused 30-goal scorers are eminently affordable for years to come.

And no less relevant, how far's Dubas ready to push Sidney Crosby's limits?

Let's not get nuts here.