HI Robert, Kane/Malkin are markedly better than Benn. If we sign for a million and are not forced to play him when he digresses further, then OK, otherwise pass. understand we don't have a lot of options. To add, frustrating last year that we couldn't play Bunting as we coudn't sit the captain. If that was known, why pick him up? Another wasted pick out the door. Nill has lost his luster and he's scrambling.
The point in comparing Benn to Malkin and Kane wasn't to say he was their equal, but to compare the value of their respective contracts. Benn actually scored far more points per minute at 5v5 than Kane did, and only slightly less than Malkin did. He did all that for multiple millions less than they made.
I agree that he struggled in the playoffs, and that's probably the strongest argument in favor of moving on. But 84 games is a long time, so if you can get this kind of 5v5 production for cheap in a bottom-six role without blocking other players, I think you can make a strong argument for bringing him back.
Hi Cathy. Well he makes 9.8M, hasnt scored more than 54 points during his first 7 years of that contract (granted injuries). He's slow, can't really turn sharp, doesn't create (more goals than assists) , giveaways are 2-3 times takeaways, average passer, doesn't hit, doesn't forecheck, never seen him in a puck battle, let alone win one.. on the positive side, he's defensively sound, 50% face offs, smart, good shot, finds the openings. But that's worth about 3-4M, not 9.8M. To close, when is the last time you saw him with a highlight reel goal, where he
If you've never seen Seguin in a puck battle you're literally never watched him play. Pretty obvious you have some irrational animosity to flat out make up shit about a player.
Him not playing IS the issue. He's he's played 65 of a possible 185 games since 2024. He's going to be 35 next year. He looked really good and I like him a lot as a person but the reality is he simply hasn't been able to stay on the ice.
Robert, do you think the threat of an Ottawa offer sheet to Robertson makes a trade more likely? Either to Ottawa or elsewhere? I can’t imagine the compensation package is very appealing, but Ottawa now has the cap space and (I’d think) the motivation (trying to stay competitive, just lost a star LW) to make an offer Dallas can’t match. I didn’t think there were any credible threats before, but Ottawa’s new situation has increased my heart rate a little.
The compensation package for a team signing Robertson to a an offer sheet would be a steal for the Stars. It's 4 first round picks...and if you told me I could trade Robertson for 4 first rounders and I'd it in a heartbeat. That would instantly give the Stars both cap space and assets that could be flipped for players.
Forgive my lack of imagination, but I don't think 4 first round picks spanning 2027-2030 is a very attractive return for an elite player for a team that's firmly in win-now mode. And I don't think those picks are especially valuable trade chips wither. Ottawa with Robertson's not a lottery team in the next couple of seasons, and the further out you go, the less valuable a pick is because 1) you have to wait even longer for the player the pick can be used on to be a contributor and 2) you have even less idea where in the first round that pick is going to be used.
While I don't think Robertson would sign an Ottawa offer sheet regardless, I do have to say that I think four unprotected first-rounders (as they all would be) from a team that could easily fall out of the playoffs multiple times over the next four years in a tough division isn't exactly a bad return, in theory. Agreed that Nill would need to flip some of them pretty quickly to help them team now, though.
I can't see a win-now team Dallas trading Robo for draft picks. I also don't see Wyatt having as many power play goals next year, so losing Robo's offense would seem dangerous without getting a pretty good scorer in return.
On a Tulsa sidenote, I lived there in 3rd grade. My first ever hockey game was a Tulsa Drillers game in the spring of 1969. Fights galore and blood everywhere. Two guys got kicked out and continued fighting as they headed out the tunnel. My dad asked my recently widowed grandmother if she wanted to leave due to all the violence and blood. Granny said "no, I'm fine". What a trooper!
Would it have been the Tulsa Oilers, perhaps? The Tulsa Drillers are the local AA baseball team, but I suppose it's not crazy for there to have been a hockey team named the Drillers back then, too.
There's a conversation involving analytics, age, injuries, and VGK style pragmatism being more important than sentimentality. But I don't care. I like a good story. And what would wrap up the story of the Dallas Stars since their 2013 rebrand better than Benn handing the cup to Seguin.
If I'm Nill, I do everything I can to win this year with those 2. Damn the future. Of course, I am decidedly not Jim Nill, nor a GM of any caliber. I'm a fan. A fool. A hopeless romantic. And I'm willing to forgive a few tough years after next season if that's what it costs us. He's gotta go for it. Gimme that storybook ending, Nill!!
HI Robert, Kane/Malkin are markedly better than Benn. If we sign for a million and are not forced to play him when he digresses further, then OK, otherwise pass. understand we don't have a lot of options. To add, frustrating last year that we couldn't play Bunting as we coudn't sit the captain. If that was known, why pick him up? Another wasted pick out the door. Nill has lost his luster and he's scrambling.
Hi Bill,
The point in comparing Benn to Malkin and Kane wasn't to say he was their equal, but to compare the value of their respective contracts. Benn actually scored far more points per minute at 5v5 than Kane did, and only slightly less than Malkin did. He did all that for multiple millions less than they made.
I agree that he struggled in the playoffs, and that's probably the strongest argument in favor of moving on. But 84 games is a long time, so if you can get this kind of 5v5 production for cheap in a bottom-six role without blocking other players, I think you can make a strong argument for bringing him back.
https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20252026&thruseason=20252026&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&stdoi=std&rate=y&team=ALL&pos=S&loc=B&toi=500&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL
Agree. Reality is we don't have many options. Seguin exiting next year will be a relief. Grossly overpaid.
He hasn't played in a year, so that's quite the assumption on your part. Maybe he'll pull a Joe Pavelski comeback.
Hi Cathy. Well he makes 9.8M, hasnt scored more than 54 points during his first 7 years of that contract (granted injuries). He's slow, can't really turn sharp, doesn't create (more goals than assists) , giveaways are 2-3 times takeaways, average passer, doesn't hit, doesn't forecheck, never seen him in a puck battle, let alone win one.. on the positive side, he's defensively sound, 50% face offs, smart, good shot, finds the openings. But that's worth about 3-4M, not 9.8M. To close, when is the last time you saw him with a highlight reel goal, where he
I can tell he’s your favorite. 😁
If you've never seen Seguin in a puck battle you're literally never watched him play. Pretty obvious you have some irrational animosity to flat out make up shit about a player.
Him not playing IS the issue. He's he's played 65 of a possible 185 games since 2024. He's going to be 35 next year. He looked really good and I like him a lot as a person but the reality is he simply hasn't been able to stay on the ice.
Robert, do you think the threat of an Ottawa offer sheet to Robertson makes a trade more likely? Either to Ottawa or elsewhere? I can’t imagine the compensation package is very appealing, but Ottawa now has the cap space and (I’d think) the motivation (trying to stay competitive, just lost a star LW) to make an offer Dallas can’t match. I didn’t think there were any credible threats before, but Ottawa’s new situation has increased my heart rate a little.
The compensation package for a team signing Robertson to a an offer sheet would be a steal for the Stars. It's 4 first round picks...and if you told me I could trade Robertson for 4 first rounders and I'd it in a heartbeat. That would instantly give the Stars both cap space and assets that could be flipped for players.
Forgive my lack of imagination, but I don't think 4 first round picks spanning 2027-2030 is a very attractive return for an elite player for a team that's firmly in win-now mode. And I don't think those picks are especially valuable trade chips wither. Ottawa with Robertson's not a lottery team in the next couple of seasons, and the further out you go, the less valuable a pick is because 1) you have to wait even longer for the player the pick can be used on to be a contributor and 2) you have even less idea where in the first round that pick is going to be used.
While I don't think Robertson would sign an Ottawa offer sheet regardless, I do have to say that I think four unprotected first-rounders (as they all would be) from a team that could easily fall out of the playoffs multiple times over the next four years in a tough division isn't exactly a bad return, in theory. Agreed that Nill would need to flip some of them pretty quickly to help them team now, though.
Interesting question is would Robo sign it?
Just get Robo signed.
I can't see a win-now team Dallas trading Robo for draft picks. I also don't see Wyatt having as many power play goals next year, so losing Robo's offense would seem dangerous without getting a pretty good scorer in return.
On a Tulsa sidenote, I lived there in 3rd grade. My first ever hockey game was a Tulsa Drillers game in the spring of 1969. Fights galore and blood everywhere. Two guys got kicked out and continued fighting as they headed out the tunnel. My dad asked my recently widowed grandmother if she wanted to leave due to all the violence and blood. Granny said "no, I'm fine". What a trooper!
Realize if you get draft picks for Robo you've given the Stars both cap space and assets that can be flipped for players.
Would it have been the Tulsa Oilers, perhaps? The Tulsa Drillers are the local AA baseball team, but I suppose it's not crazy for there to have been a hockey team named the Drillers back then, too.
I do believe you’re right. I saw your picture and was thinking Drillers. Even though it was a memorable night, it has been a few years.
I called them the Drillers at least twice over the weekend, so I have far less excuse than you do for my slip-up.
Jim Nill knows what he can get in return for Robo and will be prepared to execute in the event Robo doesn’t re-sign.
I doubt Robo agrees to an offer sheet or sign and trade with Ottawa.
Agreed.
There's a conversation involving analytics, age, injuries, and VGK style pragmatism being more important than sentimentality. But I don't care. I like a good story. And what would wrap up the story of the Dallas Stars since their 2013 rebrand better than Benn handing the cup to Seguin.
If I'm Nill, I do everything I can to win this year with those 2. Damn the future. Of course, I am decidedly not Jim Nill, nor a GM of any caliber. I'm a fan. A fool. A hopeless romantic. And I'm willing to forgive a few tough years after next season if that's what it costs us. He's gotta go for it. Gimme that storybook ending, Nill!!
I must confess that I can see the same appeal to the One Last Ride narrative, albeit with the same caveats you prefaced your comment with.
Robert, I already liked you. But as a huge Ben Folds fan, I gotta say that not just anybody can pull out a quote from “Free Coffee”. Kudos.
I try to keep my Ben Folds references to one per month, max. Occasionally I overstep, though.
I went to grad school in Normal, IL about a year after the album was released.
That would surely have been An Experience.