The Hurricanes celebrate their Stanley Cup championship with a record-setting parade in Raleigh, the latest on Stars forwards Jason Robertson and Jamie Benn, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM/THE NEWS & OBSERVER: An estimated record-setting crowd of over 180,000 people turned out in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, to watch the Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup parade on Saturday.
The parade began at 11 am ET with the team and their families perched on the open-top decks of double-decker buses, arriving at City Plaza an hour later, where the players, general manager Eric Tulsky, and head coach Rod Brind’Amour took turns speaking to the fans.
Tulsky took care of a piece of business during the gathering, announcing the signing of winger Nicolas Deslauriers to a two-year contract extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations again to the Hurricanes and their fans for their well-deserved championship run.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars general manager Jim Nill appeared on Sportsradio 96.7 FM/1310 The Ticket (KTCK-AM) on Saturday.
Among the topics Nill talked about were Jason Robertson’s contract negotiations and the future of team captain Jamie Benn.
Nill said the club’s priority remains signing Robertson to an extension. He indicated that the discussions continue, but there are currently no real deadlines.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson’s contract status and the ongoing negotiations have drawn considerable interest around the league. The outcome could have far-reaching consequences for the Stars.
Since his debut in 2020-21, Robertson has been among the league’s highest-scoring forwards. He sits 11th overall with 489 points in 453 games, making him the highest-scoring member of the Stars during this period.
Robertson is completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7.75 million. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer, and is a year away from being eligible for unrestricted free-agent status.
It’s rumored that Robertson could seek a deal comparable to teammate Mikko Rantanen’s eight-year contract ($12 million AAV). The Stars being in a no-tax state could help Nill get him signed to a new deal. However, they currently have $10.139 million, meaning they’ll have to make a cost-cutting trade or two to free up sufficient room to re-sign him.
Nill was asked about the possibility of another team taking advantage of the Stars’ limited cap space to sign forward Mavrik Bourque to an offer sheet. He acknowledged the scenario, adding that they’re also trying to get Bourque signed. Nill claimed they’ve got “different plans in place” for all these scenarios.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bourque is completing a one-year contract with a cap hit of $950,000. Like Robertson, he has arbitration rights. He’s coming off his sophomore season, scoring 20 goals and 21 assists for 41 points. Some observers believe he could flourish with an expanded role, making him a prime target for an offer sheet, provided he’s willing to sign one.
Nill said he intends to meet with team captain Jamie Benn after the upcoming NHL draft to see if he’s willing to return for another season.
“Like I said, we want him back,” Nill said. “He’s a big part of our team and I don’t see any, unless he thinks it’s time (to retire), then we’ll have to look at different directions.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Benn, 36, completed a one-year, bonus-laden contract with a $1 million base salary and a $3 million performance bonus. This season saw his lowest production in a non-lockout, non-COVID season, with 36 points in 60 games.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Utah Mammoth have reportedly hired former Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote as an assistant coach.
NHL.COM: The Seattle Kraken hired former defenseman Justin Schultz in a player development role. Schultz spent 12 seasons in the NHL, spending his final two seasons with the Kraken from 2022-23 to 2023-24.
TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs could be tapping into the Calder Cup-winning Marlies roster for help next season. Among them could be forwards Easton Cowan and Jacob Quillan, defenseman Ben Danford, and goaltender (and playoff MVP) Artur Akhtyamov.