Gardiner could get Ellis money
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: With the Nashville Predators signing Ryan Ellis to an eight-year, $6.25 million per season.
This is likely what Jake Gardiner will be looking at on his next deal, either from the Toronto Maple Leafs or from someone else.
Gardiner isn’t Ellis, but he’s just a step behind.
Stars and Seguin have an open dialogue
Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News: Tyler Seguin will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, but Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill said the sides continue to speak about an extension.
“It’s very open dialogue,” Nill said. “Right now, it’s August, and on both sides ‘Let’s see once we get here, get started and see where things go.’ I don’t want people to panic. He’s got a year left, and if we get him signed, great. If we don’t, he’s going to have a good year and we’re going to have a good team and go from there.”
Nill added that Seguin has earned the right to look into free agency if he wants, and doesn’t blame him, but does hope they can get him re-signed.
“Ideally, you’d like to get it done before the season,” Nill said. “You’ve seen throughout the league that there’s players — it’s their one opportunity. He might want to say ‘Let me see what’s out there, too.’ I can’t stop that. That’s his right. I think we’ve had great dialogue, so there’s not a fight here against each other. We’ve had great dialogue and we’ll see where it goes.”
