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Dallas Stars Fan Guide to Riding Seguin’s Re-Signing Roller Coaster

By Allison Scott

CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 08: Tyler Seguin #91 of the Dallas Stars skates in front of Nick Schmaltz #8 of the Chicago Blackhawks in the third period at the United Center on February 8, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 08: Tyler Seguin #91 of the Dallas Stars skates in front of Nick Schmaltz #8 of the Chicago Blackhawks in the third period at the United Center on February 8, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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This off-season has been nothing short of awesome for the Dallas Stars. They hosted the 2018 NHL Entry Draft at the American Airlines Center, acquired a number of new players and a new coach, and have set themselves up for what appears to be a successful season. The only thing that hasn’t gone as planned is re-signing forward Tyler Seguin.

The days have turned into weeks and the weeks have turned into months, and there’s still no solid update about the Dallas Stars‘ new deal with Tyler Seguin. While the frustration might be setting in as both sides appear to work on negotiations, it’s hard to not be curious about what could be holding up the process.

Money in the Bank

Of course, hockey is a business. Seguin is an elite forward with a lot of talent. He’s proven himself in the NHL and has a rather impressive record to prove it. That, however, doesn’t clear cap space or make it easier for the Stars to ink him to a new deal.

Currently, No. 91 will take home $6.5 million for the upcoming 2018-19 season, having earned $6 million last season. His cap hit has been a reasonable $5.75 million for all six seasons on his current contract. Considering what he’s been able to accomplish, that isn’t much.

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Think about the likes of Patrick Kane and Evgeni Malkin — who both make in the ballpark of $10 million a season. They’re putting up similar points, spending about the same amount of time on the ice and getting paid over four million dollars more than Seguin.

While that isn’t to say that No. 91 is the same as either Kane or Malkin, it’s important to look at what players around the league make for comparison sake. Seguin watched Jamie Benn sign a deal that averages $9.5 million a season, and he likely wants something close to that.

Testing the Waters

Of course, to assume that Seguin’s only looking for the Stars to increase their monetary offer would be naive. You’d be hard pressed to find a team in the NHL that wouldn’t want No. 91 on its roster. He is a highly coveted center who brings a lot to the table, and that’s seriously valuable.

Although it seems as if Seguin wants to remain in Big D, there’s always the chance that he has an underlying desire to move elsewhere and try a new club out. He could be holding off on re-signing with Dallas to have the freedom to do just that.

It wouldn’t be surprising for Seguin to walk if the Stars don’t meet his requirements, especially if money is something he’s focused in on. He has a lot to leverage with Dallas, which makes the negotiations even more difficult.

Bottom Line

Seguin will go or stay according to what he wants. At the end of the day, he has earned the right to do so.

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The Stars want him to stay in Victory Green and to win a Stanley Cup to boot, but if the money isn’t there, Dallas doesn’t want to sign him for enough time, or Seguin has a strong desire to test free agency, there isn’t much to be done.

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