NHL Rumors: Pavelski Playing Last Season With Stars

The Dallas Stars were already in a cap crunch before they just re-signed Roope Hintz to an eight-year, $8.45 million AAV contract extension. The team also inked Jason Robertson to a big four-year deal right before the season and are lucky to have their franchise goaltender locked up for cheap. Despite signing three of their players who will help lead this team into the future, they are going to be in a tough spot next offseason.

With Hintz about to earn $5 million more on his next deal, that's $5 million less the team can spend on another player. Joe Pavelski could be the casualty that comes from the cap as he is earning $5.5 million in the final year of his deal.

The Stars are going to have to get creative or hope Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn have career resurgences like they are this season if they want to continue to be a Stanley Cup competitor. The team looks very good right now but Pavelski will have to make a decision if he wants to take a big pay cut to stay in Dallas or sign somewhere else where he has a chance to win his first Cup before he retires. The Stars may get lucky if the cap rises significantly next offseason, but the Boston Bruins may be a possible destination if Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, or both retire after this season.