The Dallas Stars are in no rush to force a decision while they wait for their roster to get healthy, but one important conversation is set to begin soon.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that GM Jim Nill is always looking for ways to improve, though the feeling is the Stars will hold off on making bigger calls until they can better judge the group at full strength. That includes their approach to the trade market and the next step with Jason Robertson.
Robertson, a pending UFA, is not eligible to be extended until January 1st, but the Stars expect to open talks next month. Nill laid out the plan plainly: “We’ll start sometime in December,” Nill said.
“We’ll touch base, see where we’re at and hopefully get something done. That’s the plan right now.”
There’s no guarantee Robertson jumps at an early deal. The expectation is that he’ll want to see how the market develops, and if negotiations drag all the way to July 1st, Dallas could redirect that money toward other premium targets.
In Philadelphia, the bigger question is whether the problem goes beyond the young talent and into the veteran core.
Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff reported that before the Matvei Michkov update, Flyers GM Daniel Briere had already acknowledged this offseason that the team could take a step back after reaching the second round last year. Even so, this level of drop-off wasn’t what anyone had in mind.
The Flyers still don’t have a top-six center, and they’ve tried to avoid a full rebuild in hopes of landing one. Instead, they’ve loaded up on wingers through the draft and trade market, then committed long-term to three of them: Tyson Foerster, Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett.
According to sources, the issues haven’t centered on youngsters like Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov. The concern is that several veterans haven’t been carrying their weight, including Konecny, Sean Couturier, Trevor Zegras, Travis Sanheim and Cam York.
Konecny’s no-movement clause makes him a difficult name to move, and there’s no indication he’d be eager to go. It was reported last month that the Flyers might approach him. Sources also said the team could explore moving other veterans if the slide continues, though Sanheim is not expected to be dealt and Zegras signed a four-year extension in the offseason.
Tippett still has five years left at $6.2 million and carries a 10-team no-trade list, while the Flyers are already deep on the wing. York has three years remaining at $5.15 million, and sources said Philadelphia would consider moving him if the right offer came along.
Rasmus Ristolainen looks like the most likely Flyer to be moved before the trade deadline, with a return in the second- or third-round range.
For now, the Flyers have not discussed firing head coach Rick Tocchet, though he is expected to shoulder some of the blame.
In Other News...
Stars Still Have One Big Issue Despite Their Strong Start
The early returns on Dallas season have been encouraging, even if they have not looked exactly the way the Stars hoped when they set out to address last springs playoff scoring issues. At 10-5-2, they sit ninth in points percentage and have built a strong foundation on the back end, with Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith giving them steady goaltending and Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell and Thomas Harley helping drive the defensive play.
What has not fully arrived yet is the extra offense the Stars were chasing. The changes Glen Gulutzan put in place have helped make Dallas harder to play against, but the scoring has not taken a meaningful jump, leaving the club in an odd spot: good enough to win, structured enough to control games, and still waiting for the attack to catch up to the rest of it. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Are Suddenly Getting Help Where They Need It Most
Chicagos injury picture is starting to brighten in a way that could matter quickly, with head coach Jeff Blashill saying Patrick Kane and Bowen Byram are expected back at practice and in games within the next few days. The Blackhawks also added some experience behind the bench, bringing in former Stanley Cup champion Mark Eaton as a defensive coach, a move that fits the broader push to stabilize a group that has been trying to piece things together on the fly.
On the other side of the matchup, the Stars made a roster move of their own by recalling defenseman Trey Taylor, a bit of added depth that comes at a time when Dallas is still working through its own blue-line health issues. It is the kind of transaction that can look routine on paper but tends to matter more when the schedule tightens and the margins get thin, especially with key minutes still needing to be covered. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Arena Future Just Got More Complicated For Dallas Fans
The arena conversation around the Stars got a lot more complicated after Plano voters turned down a measure that would have allowed venue taxes to help pay for the proposed project. The vote undercut one of the clearest public financing paths tied to the teams future home, and it quickly shifted attention back to Dallas, where city leaders have been pushing to keep the Stars downtown.
With that option off the table for now, the Stars said they will look at other financing possibilities as the process moves forward. Plano officials also plan to revisit how they approach arena funding, leaving the teams next step unsettled and the broader battle over where the franchise lands far from resolved. [Read more 🡒]