The Stars are putting forth their best effort to finalize an extension for emerging center Wyatt Johnston before Friday’s trade deadline, Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff reports Monday. There’s a mutual desire for a maximum eight-year commitment, but Dallas’ offers have ranged between $8MM and $8.5MM annually, Marek writes.
That’s not likely enough to convince Johnston to extend before becoming a restricted free agent this summer. The 21-year-old is fourth on the Stars in goals (24), third in assists (34), and third in points (55) through 60 games. His 19:08 ATOI leads Dallas forwards and is a decent margin ahead of second-place Jason Robertson (17:45).
He’s not technically centering Dallas’ designated top line beside Robertson – that honor still goes to Roope Hintz. In fact, Johnston’s even-strength role has been on what’s technically the Stars’ third line between veterans Jamie Benn and Evgenii Dadonov. He’s also spent a good bit of time with Hintz and Robertson at even strength, though, flexing between wing and center with the former. The edge in ice time above Dallas’ other top forwards largely comes from his penalty kill usage. He’s played a major role shorthanded for the Stars this season, averaging 1:33 per game and factoring in on their top PK unit with Benn.
All this is to say that Johnston is beginning to solidify himself as Dallas’ top center, even if he’s not a first-line fixture. The Stars’ proposition that he should be in the same pay range as Hintz ($8.45MM) amid a rising cap while being seven years younger with better point production is thus an incredibly tough sell for Johnston’s camp, led by Octagon’s Andy Scott.
Among pending RFAs, Johnston’s 55 points are tied with the Jets’ Gabriel Vilardi for most in the league. Dallas must tread carefully here – with only seven forwards under contract for next season and under $25MM in projected cap space, failing to land a deal with Johnston before the summer could lead to the 2021 first-rounder garnering offer sheets north of $10MM annually. Depending on the order in which general manager Jim Nill does his business, they simply may not be able to afford to match.
That’s why it’s no surprise the Stars are trying to dial in a realistic number now to avoid it hanging over their heads down the stretch and into the postseason. There’s also the benefit of a solidified cap number for Johnston aiding their long-term planning in case they decide to add a non-rental asset on deadline day, a feasible outcome since they still have nearly $5MM in cap space available, per PuckPedia.
Johnston led the Stars in goals (10) and tied for the team lead in points (16) in their run to the Western Conference Final last season. He’s also yet to miss a game in his three-year NHL career and is on pace for a career-high 75 points.