We’re so near the end of the slowest Dallas Stars month of the year! And that means the hockey content is slowly but surely beginning to refill the reservoirs.
The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks is doing his part with his latest mailbag. And his first move is to put the Jake Oettinger – Jason Robertson issues in context:
It’s been eight years since a Stars restricted free agent entered September without a contract (not counting the funky 2020 offseason). During the 2014 offseason, both Cody Eakin and Brenden Dillon were late signings as the regular season approached. But since then, the Stars have done a great job of getting their business done early, as Jamie Oleksiak (2017) and Gemel Smith (a questionable choice to go to arbitration in 2018) have been the only RFAs to even enter August without a contract done.
So that makes the wait on Robertson and Oettinger a bit concerning, right? Well, not exactly.
This is just how the game is played. Agents and teams do a little dance, tight roping their way toward the start of the regular season. The agents want to use training camp and Opening Night as leverage. The teams bank on the players not wanting to miss that time on the ice, and later money.
Something about deadlines making deals.
Matt has more, including prospect talk, an Anton Khudobin report, the post-John Klingberg defense, and why you shouldn’t even think about Patrick Kane right now. [SportsDayDFW]
Stars Stuff
Saad Yousuf is hitting the mailbag, too. He answers your questions in his latest article.
An update (or lack thereof) on the contract talks of Jason Robertson and Jake Oettinger, health updates on Wyatt Johnston and Anton Khudobin, Jamie Benn’s captaincy and legacy, Stars players as New Girl characters and more!
Stars mailbag, part 1 👇🏽https://t.co/kJY977dXFS
— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) August 26, 2022
Another day, another hot prospect, another ELC.
✍ It’s official!
We’ve signed Francesco Arcuri to a three-year, entry-level contract!@FArcuri13 | #TexasHockey
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) August 25, 2022
Around The Leagues
“Heiskanen doesn’t get as much national attention as other up-and-coming NHL players,” and only gets one paragraph here. Seems OK.
Top defenseman in NHL in three seasons debated https://t.co/PF20ydh1oY via @NHLdotcom
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) August 29, 2022
Also from NHL.com: Whether you love to hate him or hate to love him, there’s no one quite like John Tortorella.
“I missed it terribly.”
Flyers coach John Tortorella is back behind an NHL bench this season and sits down for a wide-ranging Q&A with staff writer @NHLAdamK https://t.co/9QVdCuAiov
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) August 29, 2022
The WomensWorlds continue with the two best teams being the two best teams, pretty much.
Canada and USA are perfect at the women’s World Championship, while Sweden and Czechia also managed to come out on top during Saturday’s action in Denmark.
From @IanKennedyCK: https://t.co/zQTuMR64Ax
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) August 27, 2022
Nazem Kadri celebrated his day with the Stanley Cup in the place where he was born and raised, and it was a pretty big deal.
Nazem Kadri walked out the front doors of the London Muslim Mosque on Saturday and hoisted the Stanley Cup as he celebrated with his hometown communityhttps://t.co/g1K6XaI6Bw
— CBC Sports (@cbcsports) August 27, 2022
Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park
The Texas Stars keep getting work done, signing Syracuse Crunch blueliner Owen Headrick.
We’ve got another new face in town! We have signed defenseman Owen Headrick to a one-year AHL contract ✍
Welcome to Texas, Owen!
More 👇
— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) August 24, 2022
Finally
Yep.
when you hear mom’s car pull in the driveway and you forgot to take the meat out of the freezer… pic.twitter.com/7b3VeRJVk3
— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) August 25, 2022