Steve Ott contract talks

Checked in with Steve Ott after today's practice on the status of his contract extension talks with the Stars and here's what he had to say:

"I'm very hopeful that something gets done. I've put a lot of time in here and all I've done is bleed Dallas Stars and that's all I know. I don't want that to change. I love the area, I love the fans and my daughter is from here. It's an extremely tough situation. I leave it in my agent's hands because that's what I pay him to do. The negotiations have nothing to do with my love for Dallas; it has to do with my agent doing what's best for me. Both sides are definitely talking right now and I am very hopeful something gets done.

"I know for sure that Dallas is not going to let me go for nothing. I realize that if I am not signed I am getting traded. [The trade deadline] puts pressure on both sides to get something done. I want to stay here and Joe [Nieuwendyk] has been great with me and has come forward and said he wants to keep me here. It's in my agent and the team's hands to get something done and I think there is a lot of hope on both sides that something will get done."

Ott's an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He wants to stay here and the team wants to keep him here. But the Stars have financial issues to consider moving forward and Ott's at a time where he is going to land the biggest contract of his career. The question is if the two sides that can work out a deal that fits both Ott's needs and the Stars' current financial situation.

If they can't then the Stars will have to look at moving Ott before Wednesday's trade deadline so they don't lose him for nothing in the summer.

There are teams that would love to pick up Ott at the deadline for the same reason the Stars would love to keep him.  He's a versatile player who can play on any line. There's the energy and physical play he brings to the ice and his the ability to take opponents off their game and draw penalties. He can kill penalties and win faceoffs. He can provide some offense. Right now he's affordable. His cap hit and salary for the rest of the season wouldn't be hard to absorb for many teams. And Ott should bring a good return to the Stars in a deal.

At the same time, he's an important part of the Stars now and would be a key part moving forward. It's a matter of whether the two sides can find a middle ground on a contract extension that will work for both Ott and the Stars.

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