Stars News & Notes: Contract length key for Skrastins
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page
Defenseman Karlis Skrastins said getting a two-year contract was the key reason he decided to sign with the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
The veteran defenseman, who played with the Florida Panthers last season, told a Latvian sports site that his agent talked to three NHL teams, and that the Stars were the only one willing to go beyond a one-year deal.
"Up until the last moment there were talks with Florida ... but the offer was only for one season and Dallas was the club that gave the contract for two years," Skrastins told eSports.lv. "It means stability for me and my family. And although the money is less than I made last year, it is more than I could get from Florida."
Skrastins made $2.4 million in 2008-09 and will average $1.375 million over the two-year deal with the Stars, making $1.1 million in the first year and $1.65 million in the second year.
Florida's acting general manager Rand Sexton told the Miami Herald that Skrastins' agent offered to take $2 million for a one-year contract, but that rejected by the Panthers.
"Two million for one year was a bit much. That's it," Sexton told the Herald. "We didn't make a two-year offer. Only a one. We made him an offer on a one year [Thursday]; he took the security of the two years in Dallas.''
The 35-year-old defenseman added that he is looking forward to the move to the city Dallas, and isn't expecting much of a change as far as everyday life.
"Dallas was one of my favorite cities on road trips," Skrastins said. "As a general manager joked - Dallas is the same as Florida, only without the ocean. It's a very nice city."
As for the hockey side of things, Skrastins believes the Stars give him a chance to win.
"It is a good team that can go far," he said. "I don't have a lot of time left in the league. I've got to go for Cup (laughs)."
Gustavsson undecided on decision time frame
Swedish goalie Jonas Gustavsson told a Swedish newspaper that he is still undecided as to when he'll make a decision about where he'll sign on to play in the NHL next season.
Gustavsson was expected to choose between the Stars, Toronto, San Jose and Colorado earlier this week, but decided to wait until after the NHL free agent season opened.
"It is very difficult to say. It may be tomorrow, or in a week," Gustavsson told Expressen. But as soon as possible, I would like to have everything clear, but it has to be the right decision."
Gustavsson's Canadian-based agent, Joe Resnick, told the Globe and Mail that all four teams are still in the running and that a decision could come over the weekend or some time next week.
