News: The Penguins just re-signed defenseman Brian Dumoulin to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $800,000.
Views: This was academic, of course. Almost all RFA signings fall into that category. But it’s still at least a little noteworthy that the team went two years with Dumoulin when he’s played only 14 regular-season games in Pittsburgh.
Speaking with Jim Rutherford last week about Dumoulin in particular, I was struck by how much his status has grown within the organization. For a long while, it felt as if management was much higher on Scott Harrington and that Dumoulin was the guy who was simply two years older and more mature. But that began to shift last season, then fully manifested itself within the playoffs when he played all five games against the Rangers.
Beau Bennett, Bobby Farnham and Dominik Uher are the remaining RFAs.
Update by Josh Yohe at 4:38 p.m.: Just spoke with Dumoulin. He sounds like a different man. In a good way.
Dumoulin has never been one to show an abundance of confidence. You could see it in his play during his NHL cameos, and you could also sense this in discussions with him. But something is different now, and I think one can safely assume participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs dramatically upgraded his confidence.
“It was so important for me to get that experience, honestly,” he said. “I know for a fact it will help me going into this year. I could feel my confidence growing every game against the Rangers.”
Dumoulin admitted going from playing with a touch of fear early in the series to feeling a sense of aggression by the end.
“I didn’t want to make mistakes in that first game,” he said. “But by Games 4 and 5, I wanted the puck. I realized they needed me to be an impact player.”
Dumoulin said his goal is to be a top-six player for the Penguins this season. Current players under contract on the blue line include Kris Letang, Olli Maatta, Ian Cole, Ben Lovejoy, Derrick Pouliot, Rob Scuderi, Tim Erixon and Dumoulin. The battle for the No. 6 spot would appear to be between Dumoulin, Erixon and Scuderi.
“I know I have to earn it,” Dumoulin said.
Then a hint of that newfound confidence surfaced.
“I feel really good about myself,” he said. “By the time training camp is over, I don’t want any of my teammates or any of my coaches to have any doubts about me and what I’m capable of.”
Even though he was a restricted free agent this summer, Dumoulin never possessed any doubts that a deal would get finished.
“This is where I want to be,” he said. “I want Pittsburgh to be my home. I love it there, love my teammates and the coaches. I’m very happy right now. Really excited.”
