The current and very short-term path of the team is not a binary choice. It's just not. It doesn't matter how many times people want the all-in or all-out option to choose from at arbitrarily convenient times; it's not reality.
The reality is, Dubas chose the only realistic path: Support Sid, Malkin, and Letang as best and cheaply as possible, build for the future. That's why he signed Beauvillier, that's why he took Glass and Hayes, that's why he didn't resign Jake and opted for a help-now and in the future package.
Everything he's done since the TDL last year has been geared toward that path. If the additions and the team do well, that would be awesome! If not, there is literally nothing of consequence. Beauvillier and Gryz are UFAs. Glass and Puljujarvi are decent depth young players. You can sell Petts, Gryz, Hayes, and Eller. Worst case, Hayes-Lizotte-Acciari is your 4th line next year while you fill the rest with young available guys in-house - McGroarty, Pono, Glass, etc.
It's really not that hard. It's a sucky middle ground to have to be in but let's be real, they were always going to resign the Big 3 and let them ride it out. For better or for worse. They've given us 18 years of service, they get to pick - especially Sid.
There's also a bit of a business case here. People don't want to pretend the team is a business, but it is. Revenues matter, even if it's FSG. You don't get big like FSG by paying max dollar for bad assets. So putting a team together to try to keep butts in seats can't be ignored.
