On the Dallas Stars …
Aaron Portzline: Former Blue Jacket and Flyer R.J. Umberger will be going to Dallas on a PTO. He was out of the NHL last year.
Aaron Portzline: The Flyers bought out Umberger in 2016 and he didn’t get a PTO from anyone afterwards.
Aaron Portzline: Umberger had played under Stars Coach Ken Hitchcock in Columbus.
Mike Heika: Stars GM Jim Nill confirms that Umberger will be at their camp on a PTO. Nill added that coach Hitchcock played a big role in bringing him in.
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Stars forward Valeri Nichushkin will remain in Russia for one more season and it is expected to return to the Stars for 2018-19 according to an email from his agent.
Nichushkin has a year left on his CSKA Moscow deal, and while some players have found ways to get out from their contracts, Nichushkin will honor his.
“Val is under contract with CSKA for another year. Based on the current NHL-KHL agreement, Val may not sign with Dallas until the 18-19 season,” Gandler wrote. “I know that Dallas was watching Val in the KHL and playing for the Russian national team. They are happy with his progress and expect him back in a year. Val, too, plans to come back to Dallas after his contract with CSKA expires.”
The Stars will need to sign Nichushkin to a contract when he’s ready to return.
Sean Shapiro of the Wrong Side of the Red Line: (mailbag) On if Nichushkin could return to the NHL after his KHL season is done … asked Stars assistant GM Mark Janko who said that since Nichushkin is a RFA, they’d need to sign him before December 1st to make him eligible to play in the NHL this season. It’s not expected that he plays for the Stars this season.
sees little trade value for Patrik Nemeth or Jamie Oleksiak.