Tyler Seguin continues talks with the Stars over contract extension

Tyler Seguin is entering the final year of his contract with the Dallas Stars, but according to general manager Jim Nill, negotiations are ongoing for an extension.

With the John Tavares debacle concluded, the focus has shifted to one of next year’s free agency prizes, Tyler Seguin. However, it sounds as though other teams shouldn’t get their hopes too high about him hitting the open market, and he could be off the table entirely before the beginning of the season.

The general manager of the Stars, Jim Nill, has confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with Seguin’s camp, and progress is being made toward a long term contract extension

“We’ve had continued dialogue,” Nill told Mark Stepneski of DallasStars.com. “They’ve got where they think they should be and we’ve presented where we think we should be, and we just continue to discuss.”

In 2012, Tyler Seguin signed a six-year contact extension with the Boston Bruins worth $5,750,000 a year, totaling $34,500,000 in total. Seguin was traded before the contract kicked in, but six years later, that contract is now expiring. Seguin is likely asking for, and should get, a massive raise along with a long-term contract. If Dallas is unwilling to sign him, he can easily get that money elsewhere.

Nill also told fans to be patient, because negotiating a contract with a player is much more than just agreeing on a salary and terms.

“There are a lot of different things that go into this,” Nill said. “There are signing bonuses, lockout protections. There are a lot of different angles to these negotiations that come into play. We’re just continuing the dialogue and going from there.”

When asked if he believed that a deal would be made before the season begins in October, Nill was non-committal, but remained optmisitic that the deal will be done before then.

“I hope so, but I think I have mentioned from Day 1 that I don’t want people to panic if he is not signed when the season starts,” Nill said about finishing an extension before the season. “I think the biggest thing is we need to have a good season — get off to a good start. I hope he is signed by then, but I know if he isn’t, we’ll get a good year out of him and go from there. But like I said, I am hopeful we can get it done. We’ll have to see.”

Seguin is entering the prime of his career at 26 years old and has consistently produced 70-plus points a season since beginning his career in 2010. Since coming to the Stars in 2013, Seguin has led the team in scoring in two of his five seasons, finishing second behind Benn in the other three years. Together, he and Benn make up the heart and soul of the Stars, and they cannot afford to let him leave.

All signs seem to be positive that Seguin will stay a member of the Dallas Stars for the time being. Things seem to be heading in the right direction, and the world won’t come crashing down if he isn’t signed before October. The Stars can afford to be patient for now, but they need to heed the warning signs left behind by Tavares.