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Free agency is now just a month away and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign as well. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free-agent situation for the Stars.
Key restricted free agents
D Thomas Harley – Harley broke out in a big way last season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the 22-year-old as he could be in line for a big payday this summer. Harley had played just 40 NHL games before last season, but dressed in 79 games last year averaging over 21 minutes a game and posting 15 goals and 32 assists. The Syracuse, New York native is mobile for his size (6-3, 205) and keeps things simple with the puck but does have an offensive pulse. He has played mostly even-strength minutes in Dallas, and likely has more to offer on special teams should he be given an opportunity. Harley could be in line for a long-term extension with an AAV in the range of $5.5M to $6M, but given the Stars’ cap crunch, he might need to settle for a bridge deal.
D Nils Lundkvist – Lundkvist is another two-way defenseman that is mobile and plays a simple offensive game. Lundkvist won’t light up the scoresheet, but is good in the offensive zone keeping plays alive and getting pucks to the net. He is also a solid passer and plays a relatively safe style, taking care of his duties with and without the puck. Depending on the status of Chris Tanev, Lundkvist could see a promotion next season and will likely receive a bridge deal this summer given the Stars’ cap crunch.
F Sam Steel – Steel was expected to be an offensive player in the NHL when he was drafted in the first round in 2016. However, he’s never been able to find much scoring success, topping out at 28 points in 65 games last season. He’s bounced around to three organizations in the past few seasons but is still just 26 years old and has carved out an NHL role as a bottom-six forward who can provide energy and plays a fast game. Steel signed last summer for one year and $850K. This summer he should be able to find a multi-year deal and double his salary.
Other RFAs: F Oskar Back, G Matt Murray
Key unrestricted free agents
F Matt Duchene – Duchene bounced back to form in 2023-24 and delivered everything that Dallas was hoping for when they signed him to a one-year $3M deal last summer. Duchene can still skate, and remains a threat on the power play, off the rush and in tight areas. He posted 25 goals and 40 assists in 80 games last year and has expressed an interest in returning to the Stars. The interest is mutual according to reports and it seems very likely that both sides can reach a multi-year deal in the range of $4M-$5M per season.
D Jani Hakanpaa – Hakanpaa had the unfortunate luck of having a career-worst season as he approached unrestricted free agency. The 32-year-old Finnish defenseman has been a solid contributor on the Stars’ blueline since the 2021-22 season but dressed in just 64 games in the regular season and wasn’t available in the playoffs due to injury. When he was healthy, he remained a solid third-pair defenseman and an excellent penalty killer as his big body can disrupt passing lanes and block shots. Hakanpaa isn’t a great skater and isn’t particularly good with the puck, but for a team looking for a safe, stay-at-home defenseman, he could be a good option.
D Chris Tanev – Tanev fit in seamlessly with the Stars after he came over to the team on February 28. He played predominantly at even strength and on the penalty kill and remained one of the best shot blockers in the NHL. Tanev can still skate and remains a good option to take on the other team’s best players, he leads by example and isn’t afraid to get physical. Any team that signs Tanev to a multi-year deal may have to contend with the backend of his contract becoming an albatross as players that play the same style as Tanev typically don’t age that well. That being said, Tanev will still fetch a few years on his next deal, likely north of $3M per season.
Other UFAs: D Gavin Bayreuther, F Nicholas Caamano, C Fredrik Karlstrom, RW Joe Pavelski, D Alex Petrovic, D Derrick Pouliot, C Scott Reedy, D Jerad Rosburg, RW Craig Smith, G Scott Wedgewood
Projected cap space
Dallas has been a great team for a long time, but this summer might be the one in which it takes a step back. The Stars have just over $16M available under the salary cap and will have multiple holes to fill. If they are to sign a few of their pending free agents, that will leave them with very little space to plug holes in the lineup. However, the Stars are fortunate to have players like Mavrik Bourque in the AHL who are ready to step into an NHL lineup. This summer will be crucial for Stars general manager Jim Hill to maximize the window in which Dallas can continue to be a Stanley Cup contender.
More must-reads:
- Two-time Stanley Cup champion leaves NHL for Switzerland
- Panthers will be without Matthew Tkachuk for a while
- The '2024-25 NFL rushing touchdown leaders' quiz
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Connor Bedard, Blackhawks reportedly don't feel urgency for early extension
As of July 1, Blackhawks center Connor Bedard became eligible to sign a contract extension like every other player entering the final year of their respective contracts. One of the questions heading into the start of the summer was if he’d be among the players to quickly sign an early extension. With September a little more than a week away, it’s safe to say the answer to that question was no. The answer may continue to be no as well. In his latest appearance for Bleacher Report (video link), Frank Seravalli noted that both Bedard and the Blackhawks do not feel any urgency to get something done now, and they appear to be quite content with letting next season play out and then working on a contract at that point. The 20-year-old was the first overall pick two years ago, a consensus choice after he simply lit up the WHL, where he had 134 goals and 137 assists in 134 games over parts of three major junior seasons with Regina. The hope was that he could come in and be the next great NHL superstar. Bedard’s progression doesn’t have him at that level just yet. After putting up an impressive 22 goals and 39 assists in 67 games in his rookie season, his point-per-game rate actually dropped last year when he had 23 goals and 44 helpers in 82 appearances. Both point totals were enough to lead the Blackhawks in scoring, but at the same time, it would be fair to suggest that he underachieved relative to expectations last season. Having yet to reach the 70-point mark and given the comparable contracts for top young centers in recent years, a rough projection for a long-term deal for Bedard would be around the $8.5M range based on his performance so far. It wouldn’t be shocking if GM Kyle Davidson was amenable to something around that price point, but for Bedard, it probably wouldn’t make as much sense. On the flip side, a long-term price tag that Bedard’s camp might want could be too rich for the team to sign at this point. With that in mind, it makes a lot of sense for both sides to wait this out. Given the expectations the team has for Bedard, even a down year this season isn’t going to take him out of their long-term plans, so there isn’t much risk in waiting. And if things don’t go as planned, which would make a long-term agreement a little murkier, the simple solution at that point would be a bridge deal, allowing both sides more time to evaluate the situation. Since Davidson took over as GM, he has handed out long-term contracts to a pair of young core players. Defenseman Alex Vlasic inked a six-year deal last year, while forward Frank Nazar inked a seven-year agreement earlier this week, so there is definitely a willingness from the team to lock up their key players quickly. It’s expected that Bedard will eventually follow suit, but now, that might not be coming until next offseason, not this one.
Angry Mike Vrabel vows to find 'rats' within Patriots organization who leaked major news
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel wasn't mad about how the backups performed in the team's 42-10 preseason loss to the New York Giants. He was angry that someone had leaked the news that wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk would need season-ending shoulder surgery. When asked if he had anything to add to the reports that Polk would miss the season, Vrabel didn't give the media anything aside from his unvarnished feelings. "I'd like to find out where some of these [reports] come from. Some of these rats around here. So, we'll figure that out," he added in a news conference on Thursday. Coaches and reporters are hardly the best of friends on a good day. Often, a coach will deflect if they don't want to add fuel to a report the team hasn't made official, but usually they won't deflect and promise to get the "rats" providing this information. NFL insider Jordan Schultz broke the news ahead of the Patriots' preseason finale against the Giants. According to Schultz, the decision for Polk to undergo surgery was made to ensure the 2024 second-round pick would be healthy for the 2026 season. Polk dealt with health issues throughout the offseason. It was during the second quarter of New England's preseason opener against the Washington Commanders that he took a nasty hit on a one-yard run, leading to the shoulder injury that will sideline him for 2025. Last season, Polk had a tough rookie debut, catching just 12 receptions for 87 yards and recording two touchdowns. The hope for 2025 was that he could redeem himself and become a reliable enough target for second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Expectations for Maye are much higher now with the return of Tom Brady's old offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels. Without Polk to run routes, though, the already-thin wide receiver room is nearly devoid of talent behind veteran receiver Stefon Diggs. The Patriots signed Diggs to a three-year, $69 million contract in the offseason. However, Diggs has brought some unwanted attention to the team through his offseason antics and is recovering from a torn ACL that ended his time with the Houston Texans. While Patriot fans should feel some hope in the direction of the team under Vrabel — a former defensive star for New England during the dynasty years — this roster is still in the midst of a rebuild. And with such a troubled roster, losses may pile up, and the team's relationship with the media could worsen if another season feels like a waste. So, Vrabel being upset by Polk's injury is fair, but what doesn't feel fair is to single out Patriots staff and players who are potentially talking to reporters as hostile to the organization. It's perhaps not surprising that Vrabel is willing to voice his frustrations, as he's shown no fear when breaking up practice scrums. Still, it's the job of any journalist to build relationships with staff and team members to gain reliable sources who can help them accurately report the news. While the "rats" moniker for those in the building talking to NFL insiders and the New England sports media will be swallowed up by all the other headlines as Week 1 nears, it's notable that Vrabel's time as head coach in New England is already off to a contentious start.
CFB Week 0 winners, losers: Fourth-down decisions loom large in ranked Big 12 showdown
The 2025 college football regular season kicked off on Saturday, headlined by a ranked Big 12 matchup across the pond in Ireland. With Week 0 in the books, here are our winners and losers from the first weekend of the college football season. Winner: Going for it on fourth down with a chance to win the game Arguably, two fourth-down decisions were the most consequential in Associated Press No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones' 24-21 win over Big 12 rival No. 17 Kansas State Wildcats. Let's start with the good. With 2:26 remaining in the fourth and facing a fourth-and-3 from Kansas State's 16-yard line, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell elected to keep his offense on the field instead of kicking a field goal and taking a six-point lead. The decision was correct on multiple fronts. By settling for a field-goal attempt, Campbell would have given Kansas State, which had no timeouts, over two minutes to score a possible winning touchdown. The risk of failing to convert was offset by allowing Kansas State the ability to extend the game with a field goal as opposed to needing a touchdown to win. And again, if the Wildcats got in the end zone, would it really have mattered if Iowa State lost by one instead of four points? The Cyclones didn't have to worry about that. Instead, quarterback Rocco Becht found running back Carson Hansen, who picked up the first down, allowing Iowa State to run out the clock. Loser: Going for it on fourth from your own 30-yard line in a three-point game Conversely, Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman's fourth-down call from his own 30-yard line with 8:19 remaining was much less excusable. While his defense had just allowed two long scoring drives, putting them on the field with only 30 yards to defend was setting the unit up to fail. As much of a rhythm as Iowa State's offense may have found, it also had three three-and-outs and two fumbles to that point, so we're not exactly talking about 2019 LSU here. Rather than forcing the Cyclones to drive the field, Klieman handed them a golden scoring opportunity. Winner: Kansas State defensive end Tobi Osunsanmi It wasn't all bad for the Wildcats. Osunsanmi, a junior edge-rusher, established himself as a name to watch in the Big 12 with two first-quarter sacks. The class of 2022 recruit had 3.5 sacks all of last season and could eclipse that early in 2025. Loser: Dan Mullen trading the studio for the sideline The former Mississippi State and Florida head coach returned to the sideline on Saturday for his first game leading the UNLV Rebels. While he notched a win against FCS Idaho State, it didn't come easily. UNLV trailed, 31-24, in the fourth, before scoring 14 unanswered points in a 38-31 win. For someone who most recently spent his Saturdays in the fall watching games as an ESPN analyst, his new job is already exceptionally more pressure-inducing. Just wait until the Rebels play FBS competition. Winner: Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels This is the Daniels that was promised. After breaking through in 2022 when Kansas snapped a 13-year bowl drought, Daniels was limited to three games in 2023 due to injury. Last season, he was healthy for the Jayhawks' disappointing 5-7 campaign and threw a Big 12-high 12 interceptions. He was outstanding in a 31-7 win over Fresno State, going 18-of-20 for 176 yards and three touchdowns while adding 47 yards rushing. If this is the Daniels that Kansas gets all season, it could make serious noise. Loser: Refs' judging of Clay Patterson's dance moves Stanford defensive lineman Clay Patterson celebrated a 12-yard sack late in the first half against Hawai'i by breaking out a TikTok dance, which officials apparently weren't fond of, hitting him with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, resulting in an automatic first down. It's another reminder that no one despises fun more than college football referees. But until they discover a sense of humor, it would be best for Patterson to save his moves for TikTok.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur Takes Notice of Tucker Kraft’s Transformation After TE’s Award
There are high hopes for Green Bay Packer tight end Tucker Kraft to take another leap in the 2025 NFL season. After improving on his 2023 rookie numbers during the 2024 NFL season, Kraft appears to have the potential to be the first tight end ever in the history of the franchise to amass at least 1,000 yards. It remains to be seen whether he could live up those expectations, but off the field, the former South Dakota State Jackrabbis star tight has recently turned heads when he was honored with the 2025 community service award during Green Bay’s annual Green Bay Chamber of Commerce “Welcome Back Packers Luncheon” on Friday, according to Mike Spofford of the team’s official website. Green Bay Packers TE Tucker Kraft’s charity gets appreciated Kraft earned the award for his charitable gestures in Wisconsin and back home in South Dakota. The 24-year-old tight end has been a supporter of the Cheyenne River Youth Project, a local nonprofit, which has helped give over a thousand toys to kids. After accepting the award, Kraft offered a short but meaningful speech. “Where you’re from can never set a limit on where you want to go,” Kraft said. Meanwhile, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur shared a special message about his appreciation for Kraft. “It’s an honor to work with a guy like that each and every day,” LaFleur said. “To watch the maturity and growth, not only as a person but as a player … he does a great job representing what we want to be about with his actions on the field as well as off the field. “Tuck, we can’t have enough guys like you on our football team.”
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