On the Dallas Stars …
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Stars still need to sign newly acquired Ben Bishop, but Bishop is already excited.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself, because I know we have the negotiating process to go through, but I’m excited,” said Bishop, a Colorado native who played for the Texas Tornado in 2004-05. “I know the area down there, I graduated from Frisco High School, and I know how passionate the fans are there. I was just really excited to hear the news.”
Bishop is already familiar with coach Ken Hitchcock and likes how he coaches.
If Vegas doesn’t select either Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi in the expansion draft, the Stars will look to trade Niemi or buy him out. Buying out Niemi would give them a $1.5 million cap hit for the next two seasons.
“We knew we had issues that had to be dealt with, and we feel we are dealing with them,” Nill said. “If we can add Ben Bishop to what we think Ken Hitchcock will be able to do as head coach, we have the opportunity to be a much better team defensively.”
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: (chat) If you are a free agent and looking put up career numbers, the Stars under Ken Hitchcock may not be what you are looking for. A defensive defenseman like Karl Alzner might be intrigued to sign with the Stars.
thinks that if they draft a forward at No. 3, they could look to sign a free agent winger like Justin Williams on a short-term deal.
If they draft a defenseman at No. 3 like Miro Heiskanen, may not look to add a free agent defenseman and stand pat with what they already have.
doesn’t think that having Hitchcock as their coach changes if Valeri Nichushkin comes back to North America or not. Nichushkin has to figure out if he wants to put in the work to live and play here.
The Stars could look to trade Cody Eakin this offseason.
