Stars notebook: Nill talks contract extension with Seguin

The Dallas Stars held a team meeting in Frisco on Monday morning and then met with the media one final time as they head into the offseason and begin sorting through what went wrong in 2017-18.
It was a season that started with high expectations and ended in disappointment with the Stars missing the playoffs for a second straight year.

RELATED: [Scott Burnside breaks down what went wrong for the Stars this season]
"I've got to sit back, got to get the emotions out of this. We're going to sit down and evaluate everything," Stars GM Jim Nill said.
"First of all, we're not happy where we are at. We should be preparing for game one (of the playoffs). It didn't happen, so we're as disappointed as anyone. We're going to evaluate the situation. It starts right at the top with myself. I am responsible for this. We are going to talk with everyone in the organization and see where we went wrong. We want to be smart about it, but for now, we just want to take the emotions out of it and then sit down, go to work and roll up our sleeves."
That's a process, Nill said, that is going to take some time. And it's going to take some time to get over being in a good position most of the season and then have it fade away so quickly towards the end, aided by an eight-game losing streak that doomed the team's playoff hopes.
"It's frustrating. We had a lot of high hopes for this year," said center Tyler Seguin. "Last year, we were out pretty early, and there was that long process, and this year it was more of a shock. It's going to take a little more to time get over it."
And some time to sort through it all.
For now, here are some notes from Monday's media availability.

Seguin contract talks

Nill will have a lot on is plate this summer as he tries to put the Stars in a better position for 2018-19 and beyond, and among those items will be a contract extension for Seguin. The Dallas center will be in the final year of his current six-year contract in 2018-19. Seguin has a cap hit of $5.75 million and will have a base salary of $6.5 million next season and is due a big raise.
"Honestly, I haven't given it much thought," Seguin said. "There hasn't been much talk at all. I've spent so much of living in the now, trying to make the playoffs and win here in Dallas."
No doubt that Nill has given a Seguin contract extension quite a bit of thought. Starting this summer, he can start negotiating a deal with Seguin. And the Dallas GM is confident he can get something done, but he said it might take time.
"We can talk July 1, and I am hoping by July 1 we are going to know where it is at and where it's heading," Nill said. "If something doesn't happen by July 1, I don't want any panic out there. He does have another year on his contract. It might not be the right time for him right now. I am banking on getting something done. When July 1 hits, if something hasn't happened I don't want a big panic to happen. Sometimes there is a process you've got to get through.
"I am pretty confident we can get something done."

What's next for Spezza

The 2017-18 season was a rough one for center Jason Spezza, who tallied just 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 78 games while averaging 13 minutes of ice time.
"It's not how I expected things to go," he said. "Disappointed. Learning experience probably for me, knowing that I have to move forward and make some adjustments. Obviously, not the way I wanted things to go."
Spezza was asked what needed to change for him not to have a disappointing season.
"I think you have to have a defined role on the team and whatever that defined role is you have to play to it, and you have to play to your strengths," Spezza said. "You have to have a clear understanding of what the expectations are. Just try to be a good teammate, and that's what I tried to do this year. The expectations that you are going to score at a first-line clip when you don't play first-line minutes is unrealistic. To compare this year numerically to my past years I don't think is a proper way to assess it.
"Moving forward, I have to try to find a bigger role and find a bigger way to contribute."
Spezza has one year left on his contract at $7.5 million. There's been speculation the Stars could try to move him or buy out the final year of his contract.
"Until somebody tells me different, I am talking about how we can move things forward here next year," Spezza said. "Obviously, we're all disappointed where we are at. I understand the speculation from people; I am approaching it let's figure out how to solve what's going on here.
"Until somebody tells me different, that's my mindset."
Nill offered his thoughts on Spezza's status.
"I want to sit down with Jason and see where he is at. I need to talk to the coaching staff and see where they are at with him," Nill said. "He's got one year left. He's still a pretty good player. Is he a good fit for or is that something we need to change? I need to evaluate that."

Lehtonen's future

The Stars have a handful of pending unrestricted free agents, including goaltender Kari Lehtonen, forward Antoine Roussel, and defensemen Dan Hamhuis and Greg Pateryn. Nill says he has a pretty good idea of where he wants to go with those players, and time will tell what he is thinking.
Lehtonen is the longest-serving Dallas player of that group, having played 445 games for the Stars from 2010-2018. His contract expires this summer, and his future is up in the air, and he is looking at becoming an unrestricted free agent for the first time.
"It's not really different," Lehtonen said. "I am happy where I am as of today. It's, of course, going to get exciting in a couple of months. It's something I am looking forward to. I guess it is something new. We'll see."
And he is approaching the offseason the same way he approaches his job in goal.
"As a goalie, you just go day by day and game by game," Lehtonen said. "That's what my thoughts were in that last game. Now, it's time to start thinking about what's next."
And the 34-year-old goaltender said that no matter what happens this summer he has put roots down in Dallas.
"It's home," he said. "I came here with my wife and a couple of dogs, and now we have three kids. Our life is here."

Bishop had MCL sprain

Stars goaltender Ben Bishop revealed it was an MCL sprain that kept him out of action the final part of the season.
Bishop suffered the injury in the March 5 game against Ottawa, missed five games, returned against Ottawa on March 16 and then reinjured the knee on March 18 in Winnipeg.
"Kind of the exact same injury twice," Bishop said. "Unfortunate, but they said it would heal fine and it won't be an issue. "
Asked if he came back too soon after the first injury, Bishop said hindsight always provides a clearer picture.
"That's easy to say that now," he said. "At the time, I felt alright. I was able to play and practice. I was able to play a game with no issues. You'd like to give it as much time as possible, but in this line of work that is not always the case."
Bishop said the initial time frame after the second injury was put at 2-4 weeks, perhaps 4-6 if he really took his time.
He said he is about two-and-half weeks into his rehab right now.

Heiskanen, Nichushkin notes

Nill said the Stars plan to bring defense prospect Miro Heiskanen to North America next season. Heiskanen, the third-overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, is currently playing the semifinal round of the playoffs in Finland's top league. Heiskanen has played at the Olympics and World Juniors this season and is expected to play at the upcoming World Championship as well.
"Pretty banner year for a kid that is still 18 years old," Nill said. "Our plan is to bring him over. He is a big part of our foundation moving forward."
Forward Valeri Nichushkin, whose NHL rights are still held by the Stars, is currently playing in the KHL championship series. Nichushkin has spent the past two seasons in the KHL, and his contract with CSKA expires after this season. Nill believes Nichushkin could return to Dallas next season.
"I've talked to Val probably three times this season. We've had scouts over at different tournaments that have talked to him, talked to his representatives and I am pretty confident; I think he wants to come back," Nill said. "Now, I am not going to say it is 100 percent because until we hear it doesn't matter.
"I think he is looking forward to coming back here. Good chance he plays in the World Championship. We'll see where that goes. Right now, I am open to discussion with him and his representatives and see where it goes."

World Championship

Here are some notes on Dallas Stars players and the World Championship.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mark Stepneski is an independent writer whose posts on DallasStars.com reflect his own opinions and do not represent official statements from the Dallas Stars. You can follow him on Twitter @StarsInsideEdge.