The Dallas Stars are planning strategically for the upcoming season. Part of that is ensuring the roster is in tip-top shape, which for the Stars means inking Tyler Seguin to a new deal. That, however, has yet to happen for a few possible reasons.
The Dallas Stars want to keep Tyler Seguin around. That much we do know. The rest, though, is up in the air. Here are a couple of things that might be holding up the forward’s newest deal in Big D.
The Price is Right
Seguin had a killer season last year. He was the best forward for the team and he was able to build his defensive resumé to boot. While great for the team overall, it also gave him more ammunition in his arsenal for why he deserves more money.
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The Stars are, like any team, price conscious. Money is by no means an issue for the team, but they don’t want to sign a guy for astronomically more than he’s actually worth. Just like anything, they want the best deal.
The same can be said for Seguin and company. He’s been in the league for a few years and has a future life to plan for. He won’t be playing hockey forever and needs to ensure his financial future is set. While that doesn’t seem to be an issue given his rather large current contract, him believing he deserves more with strong evidence to support his case makes price negotiation that much more difficult.
Lots of Change
It’s not like the Stars re-signing No. 91 is their sole goal for the offseason. With a new coach, new players, and a new system to prepare for, there are other more timely concerns for them to address. Of course, keeping Seguin around is important, but it’s not like his contract expires tomorrow.
This more drawn out timeline makes it possible for both sides to really debate and decide what they’re willing to compromise on, if anything, and that takes time.
From Seguin’s point of view, it might also be considering other teams he might be interested in. With all of the changes, he might want to gauge the direction the Stars are taking and see how the season starts before committing to spending the next however many years in Dallas.
Bottom Line
Dallas wants nothing more than for Seguin to continue wearing Victory Green for years to come. His offensive talent and newly acquired defensive abilities are nothing but beneficial for the team. He’s been a staple of the club for years now and is someone the Stars see as a key piece to an eventual Stanley Cup-winning campaign.
Of course, it’s impossible to see things from Seguin’s perspective. While he hasn’t explicitly said he’s going to stay in Dallas — again, for obvious reasons — he’s built a life here and he, hopefully, isn’t willing to give that up. Unfortunately, this is the business side of hockey. It takes time, so we have to be patient.