Zuccarello going to see what other teams have to say
NHL.com: The Dallas Stars have spoken with pending free agent Mats Zuccarello‘s camp, but he wants to see what free agency might offer.
“We’ve talked a little bit with his agent, but he wants to test the free-agent market and he’s got that right,” Nill said at the 2019 NHL Draft. “So they’re going to look into the market and see what else is out there and then we will swing back and see where he’s at.
“We’ve got an interview period that starts Sunday, so we’ll start talking to other people and he’ll do the same thing and we’ll see where things go.”
* If the Stars were to re-sign Zuccarello they would owe the New York Rangers a 2020 first-round pick. If they don’t re-sign him, they would still owe the Rangers a 2020 third-pick
Teams calling the Stars about Honka
Sean Shapiro of the Athletic: Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill said teams have been calling about defenseman Julius Honka and he’s exploring his options.
With the salary cap ceiling $1.5 million lower than expected, Honka’s trade value increases a bit. Honka will likely be signing an $874,125 qualifying offer as his leverage is low.
The San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs could be two teams interested given their cap space and need for a depth defenseman.
Any return for Honka won’t be huge.
The Sharks could be looking to move defenseman Brendan Dillon ($3.25 million) and a return to the Stars shouldn’t be ruled out.
The Stars may be seeing Mats Zuccarello as a $5 million player but he is thinking $6 million.
Though it would take some financial tinkering and likely buying out of Valeri Nichushkin, the Stars plan to talk with Matt Duchene‘s camp.
Corey Perry may have the Stars on his list of teams he’d consider, but not sure if the feeling is mutual.