Morning Notes: Seguin, Bruins, Hurricanes

While the Winnipeg Jets have locked up one of the premiere 2019 UFA forwards by signing Blake Wheeler to a five-year extension, talks have started up in Dallas again regarding Tyler Seguin. John Shannon of Sportsnet reports that the Stars and Seguin’s camp spoke about an extension this past weekend and noted that “things will get interesting” when Seguin returns to Dallas on Wednesday.

Seguin’s public comments about being disappointed in his contract situation likely didn’t do Dallas any favors, but there was always an expectation something would be worked out between the two sides. If nothing is announced before training camp begins in a few weeks though, you can be sure that there will be daily rumors over whether Seguin is intending on testing the free agent waters. With Wheeler off the market, another big name is removed from what at one point looked like the most impressive free agent class ever. Seguin’s signing would only further that decline.

• The Boston Bruins announced that it’s not just Patrice Bergeron who won’t be travelling to China for their upcoming preseason contests. Noel Acciari, Zdeno Chara, Danton Heinen, Torey Krug and Sean Kuraly all will not be there when the Bruins take on the Calgary Flames. Several Bruins are coming off late season injuries and will be trying to guarantee their presence on opening night, something far more important than the brand-building exercise in China. That’s all the better for many of the young players though, as Trent Frederic, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and Jack Studnicka will all be heading overseas.
• In Carolina, Hurricanes fans aren’t waiting on news of a contract extension or an injury update but instead will be given a new captain to cheer for. Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer reports that a captain will be named when the whole team arrives to begin training. The team had been using Jordan Staal and Justin Faulk as “co-captains” last season, but new head coach Rod Brind’Amour immediately told reporters that he would be naming just one after getting the job back in the spring. When we polled the PHR community, Staal was the leading candidate for the job though Justin Williams also received more than 30% of the vote.