When the Dallas Stars failed to qualify Richard Bachman, Jordie Benn, and Tom Wandell, they took them from the restricted free agent pool, and placed them in the category of unrestricted free agency that begins on Friday around noon. This means that each players has lost their right to arbitration, but have been granted the right to sign with any team in the league, without the Stars being compensated in any way.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that these players are through with their time as Dallas Stars, however. In the case of Tommy Wandell, his time in green and black is most certainly finished, and I’ll get into the situation with Jordie Benn shortly, but the Stars have not ruled out the possibility of Richard Bachman remaining with the team to back up Kari Lehtonen next season.
After a very impressive rookie season in 2011-2012, Bachman struggled at times last year with his consistency in the lockout shortened season, being platooned between the NHL’s Dallas Stars and AHL’s Texas Stars with Cristopher Nilstorp. Neither has a firm grip on an NHL roster spot this year, with many expecting the Stars to be in the market for a veteran option that would allow Kari Lehtonen to get some must needed rest going forward.
Jordie Benn, on the other hand, has already agreed to a new contract with the Dallas Stars to avoid hitting unrestricted free agency on Friday. It was mentioned on Twitter last night that the elder Benn had signed a 3-year extension with the club, but that has yet to be stated publicly by the Stars at this time. It’s expected to be a two-way contract that will allow him to shuffle between Dallas and Austin as needed. [Twitter]
The Stars did, however, extend qualifying offers to both Lane MacDermid and Luke Gazdic, both of whom accepted the terms and signed one year deals to remain with the organization. [NBC]
Those of us with nothing better to do stayed up late last night, following the Glendale City Council proceedings that were to decide the fate of the Phoenix Coyotes organization. In a long drawn out affair that seemed to alternate between ludicrous (in an entertaining way) and boring (in a boring way), the council agreed to a plan that would keep the Coyotes in the desert, as the newly renamed Arizona Coyotes. [Five For Howling]
The Dallas Stars won’t be welcoming Vincent Lecavalier to their ranks any time soon. After reports surfaced yesterday that the Dallas Stars were likely locks for the veteran center’s services, the never-thrify Philadelphia Flyers swooped in and out-did the Stars with a richer, longer deal than Jim Nill was willing to hand out, with an iron-clad No Movement Clause that makes him untradeable. [TSN]
Lecavalier’s hometown Montreal Canadiens were also left feeling jilted, as their rabid fanbase has been calling for a union for several years now. They now turn their sights to another bought-out francophone in Daniel Briere, who was cut loose by those very same Philadelphia Flyers last month. [PHT]
The cult hero of the Boston Bruins, Patrice Bergeron, has stated that despite his countless ailments and injuries from the Stanley Cup Playoffs (including a hole in his lung) he won’t miss any time and won’t require any surgery to get him back to 100%. All good news. [KJOnline]
Newly acquired defenseman Seth Jones has made things a little crowded on the Nashville Predators blueline, forcing the team to place 38 year old, 6’7″, Hal Gill on waivers to make room. [Tennessean]
Today’s video is a long one, but a good one. If you haven’t had a chance to see Philippe Desrosier or Jason Dickinson in action yet, here is a game from the U18 World Championships, between Canada and Finland. It’s always better to judge talent from whole games, and not just highlight reels.