On the Dallas Stars …
Mark Stepneski: Stars GM Jim Nill said that they plan to bring 2017 first-round draft pick Miro Heiskanen to North America next season.
Nill said that they think Valeri Nichushkin wants to return to the NHL next season, but he’s not a 100 percent certain.
Mark Stepneski of Stars Inside Edge: GM Nill obviously isn’t happy with their season and will “evaluate everything.”
“It starts right at the top with myself. I am responsible for this. We are going to talk with everyone in the organization and see where we went wrong. We want to be smart about it, but for now, we just want to take the emotions out of it and then sit down, go to work and roll up our sleeves.”
Nill added that it’s going to take some time.
One other thing Nill will have to look at is a contract extension for Tyler Seguin, who has one year left on his deal. Seguin will carry a $5.75 million cap hit next year with a $6.5 million salary. Seguin said there hasn’t been much talk and that he hasn’t thought much of it. GM Nill thinks they can get a deal done, but it might take some time.
“We can talk July 1, and I am hoping by July 1 we are going to know where it is at and where it’s heading,” Nill said. “If something doesn’t happen by July 1, I don’t want any panic out there. He does have another year on his contract. It might not be the right time for him right now. I am banking on getting something done. When July 1 hits, if something hasn’t happened I don’t want a big panic to happen. Sometimes there is a process you’ve got to get through.
“I am pretty confident we can get something done.”
Jason Spezza didn’t have a great season. He has a year left on his deal at a $7.5 million. There has been some speculation that the Stars could look to trade Spezza or possibly buy him out. Nill said that he wants to sit down with Spezza and also talk to the coaches about him.
“He’s got one year left. He’s still a pretty good player. Is he a good fit for or is that something we need to change? I need to evaluate that.”
The Stars have pending unrestricted free agents Kari Lehtonen, Antoine Roussel, Dan Hamhuis and Greg Pateryn. Nill has an idea what he wants to do with his free agents.