Dallas Stars Tyler Seguin anticipating extension

The 26-year-old center is hopeful a new deal can be worked out before the Stars open their season on Oct. 4.

Dallas Stars standout Tyler Seguin is entering the final year of his six-year, $34.5 million contract but isn't all that interested in becoming a free agent.

The 26-year-old center is hopeful a new deal can be worked out before the Stars open their season on Oct. 4.

"That's been the goal all along," Seguin told reporters during an NHL promotional event in Chicago on Thursday. "I envision hopefully having something done. They've been talking now. My agent has been talking to the team. Hopefully, something will get done before camp."

Camp opens on Sept. 14 in Boise, Idaho, so the pace of negotiations will have to pick up for that to occur.

Prior to the recent conversations, Seguin said there had been no dialogue since June.

"I'm disappointed it hasn't happened, but there haven't been negotiations, it's just been training this summer, getting ready for this year," Seguin said. "I've still got this last year in Dallas, Dallas is home. I'm looking forward to having a good year and definitely want to win."

Seguin scored a career-best 40 goals last season when he had 78 points in 82 games in his fifth campaign with the Stars. His 173 goals since joining Dallas tie with Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby for second most during that span, behind only Alex Ovechkin.

Seguin actually signed his current six-year deal when he was a member of the Boston Bruins. But the move to Dallas proved to be a good development.

"I think it's become a fit," Seguin said. "I think (the Stars) just gave me an opportunity. My last team, I think there could have been a fit there too. It's a broken record now, but there wasn't the opportunity like Dallas.

"The Stars kind of said, 'Here, you can take this chance wherever you can.'"