All Jim Nill
from Tracey Myers of NHL.com,
Although the Stars still need to sign Robertson and Oettinger, each of whom is a restricted free agent, Nill said he's confident those deals will get done.
"We're continuing to have dialogue and negotiating," Nill said. "Things are going the right way, but like with any negotiation, they just take time. Right now, without deadlines, those things just kind of go on. We're going to get both players signed up. It's just part of the process in today's negotiations."...
DeBoer said Heiskanen could reach another gear. What gear is that?
"We think he has more offensively to give. We really started to see it in the [Stanley Cup] playoffs against Calgary. In that overtime in Game 7, he had three or four chances to win it for us. He just went to another level and that's kind of him. As he's given more, he even grabs and expects more. He's been in the League four seasons. He's now comfortable in the League, comfortable in his game and we forget sometimes he's only 23 years of age. This is when usually players start to take the next step and I think that's where he's at."
How critical were Robertson and Oettinger last season, and how much have they proven they can be leaders on and off the ice?
"That's what's exciting. We've slowly transitioned. These guys have come in, they've done their development part, they were drafted by us, they've been developed by us and now they're starting to grab it. In today's environment with the [NHL Salary Cap] system and the way contracts work, it's so important to have homegrown players come in. Those two guys have come in. Hintz, Heiskanen, Thomas Hardy, you need those young players coming up. They've come in at just the right time for our franchise and think they'll be able to [help us] continue to be contender because of that."
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