With the Stars adding Martin Hanzal this summer to a center group that already featured Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza, it seemed like there was going to be somewhat of a logjam, especially with Hanzal receiving top-six money ($4.75MM). Speaking with Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News, head coach Ken Hitchcock indicated that the team views Hanzal as someone who will strictly play down the middle while it will be Spezza that will shift to the left wing. Hitchcock did add that he envisions Spezza will still see some time at his natural position and that Radek Faksa, a natural center in his own right, is also a candidate to shift to the wing and could potentially line up alongside Hanzal.
More from the Western Conference:
- Jets forward Mathieu Perreault played through back issues last season, he noted to reporters, including Mike Sawatzky of the Winnipeg Free Press. He attributed the problem to his time at center when Bryan Little was out of the lineup early on in the season. Because of those back troubles (which he has now recovered from), the 29-year-old indicated that he would prefer to stay as a winger heading into training camp. Perreault is coming off of a career year offensively with 45 points despite missing 17 games with various injuries.
- Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province suggests (audio link) that a bridge deal is near completion for Canucks RFA Bo Horvat and could already be finalized. However, team president Trevor Linden told Ed Willes, also of the Vancouver Province (Twitter link) that there is no bridge contract in place. Horvat is coming off a 52 point season and is expected to be a long-term fixture in Vancouver’s lineup. Even with today’s signing of Thomas Vanek, the team has more than $5MM in cap space to work with per CapFriendly (and that’s with a roster of 26 players) so his addition shouldn’t prevent them financially from working out a long-term deal with Horvat.
Still want Faksa to be the Pens third line center.