There has been further progress in contract talks between Tyler Seguin and the Dallas Stars.

The 26-year-old can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason; in late August, Seguin expressed disappointment that a new deal had not yet been reached.

"We are deep in discussions. It's moving in the right direction," Stars general manager Jim Nill told team reporter Mark Stepneski.

Talks picked up steam upon Seguin returning to Dallas prior to training camp.

"I think once he got down around the team and stuff, that was important for him," Nill added. "Like I said, things are moving in the right direction.

"I'd like to get it done before the season starts, but with negotiations, you never know. But I think both parties would like to get it done before. I think it's always been the plan to get it done before the season starts."

Time is of the essence, as Dallas opens the season Oct. 4 against the Arizona Coyotes.

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Drew Stafford is getting his shot to make the New Jersey Devils, as the veteran forward will attend camp on a professional tryout, the team announced Friday.

Stafford appeared in 59 games with the Devils last season, registering eight goals and seven assists. He inked a one-year deal worth $800,000 with New Jersey in August 2017.

Stafford, 32, has notched 415 career points across 784 games with the Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, and Devils.

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Artemi Panarin's agent, Dan Milstein, doesn't foresee his client being traded before the start of the regular season.

Panarin made it clear this offseason that he doesn't intend to sign a contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets and he will not discuss business with the team once training camp opens. However, following recent discussions between the club's management and Milstein, it doesn't appear as though Panarin is going anywhere.

"We've spoken with management and we expect Panarin to be with the Blue Jackets," Milstein said, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance.

Related - Report: Rangers are Panarin's preferred destination

Panarin has just one year left on his current contract and will become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season. The possibility of the 26-year-old hitting the open market in July isn't something Panarin's camp appears to be worried about, as Milstein insists going to free agency is merely a player's right.

"Look at it this way, you only become a UFA once in your career when you have an option and opportunity to sign a long-term contract," Milstein said. "Loyalty is important but you're given the right by the CBA to see what's out there."

Panarin is coming off his first season with the Blue Jackets, during which he set a career high with 82 points in 81 games.

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Matt Duchene's tenure in Ottawa could wind up being very brief, as the 2019 unrestricted free agent confirmed to reporters Friday that he and the Senators haven't had any contract talks yet.

"There's been some big things going on that obviously take precedent over that," Duchene told TSN's Frank Seravalli, potentially referring to the ongoing Erik Karlsson saga.

On Tuesday, Duchene noted that negotiations hadn't started and said it "would be awesome" if a long-term deal worked out with the Senators. He reiterated Friday that he is open to re-signing in Ottawa, but added that he couldn't help but watch John Tavares carve his own path in free agency this summer. Tavares signed a seven-year deal worth $11 million per season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"It's the first time you have that ultimate power as a player and you have to do what's best for you," Duchene said.

Duchene was acquired by the Sens in a blockbuster three-way trade last November, in which Ottawa sent its 2019 first-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche.

His time in Ottawa got off to a rocky start, but despite the team's struggles, the 27-year-old finished the season strong with 20 goals and 23 assists in his final 44 games. Centers in their prime rarely hit the free-agent market, so he would likely fetch a pretty penny come July 1.

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The Calgary Flames dished out a five-year, $28.75-million contract to James Neal over the offseason in a significant effort to bolster their offensive depth. Now, their new sniper has visions of potentially forming one of the league's most dangerous lines come puck drop.

Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau have steered the ship over the last four years on the club's top unit, but have been unable to find a right winger to fully complement their chemistry. Neal hopes to be that guy.

"That's where I want to play (on the right side), especially on that top line with Johnny and Sean," Neal told Sportsnet's Eric Francis.

"Them both being left shots, it's great. When you're passing lefty to lefty, it opens up quick. I love having a left-handed centerman. I look forward to playing with them. It will be great. They're guys that can shoot the puck, but who are also great passers."

Neal has been one of the NHL's most consistent marksmen over his career, registering at least 20 goals in 10 of 11 seasons while maxing out at 40 in 2011-12. Last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, the 31-year-old scored 25 times and added 19 assists in 71 contests.

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Jacksonville Jaguars All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey made waves in the hockey world recently, claiming in a tell-all interview with ESPN's Mina Kimes that he could probably crack the NHL with six months of training.

Cue the outrage.

With training camp for the 2018-19 season around the corner, several prominent NHLers were asked about Ramsey's claim, and it's safe to say they disagree.

"I think it's insulting to our league," Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel told Emily Kaplan of ESPN. "For us as players, we've dedicated our lives to be playing in the NHL. To think after six months you could come play arguably one of the hardest sports in the world? I mean, I think it's ridiculous he would say that. It's ignorant."

St. Louis Blues sniper Vladimir Tarasenko shared Eichel's disbelief.

"I can bet any money in the world there's no chance he can play in the NHL in six months. It's impossible. Him saying that ... it de-classes our sport," he said.

Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers tried his best to apply some logic to the hypothetical scenario, but still wasn't buying it.

"It's funny to me," Kreider said. "I think he's an unbelievable athlete, but skating is a skill set unto itself - just like running is, just like swimming is. Think of someone who has never swam before. If you've never been in the water before, no matter how good of an athlete you are, chances are, you're not going to be an Olympic-caliber swimmer in six months."

Among all the critics, Stanley Cup champion Evgeny Kuznetsov stood as the lone optimist.

"I would like to see that, for sure," he said. "He can come; we can help him. It's cool if an athlete wants to try something new."

Ramsey does have quite the athletic resume, to his credit. He's emerged as arguably the best shutdown corner in the NFL since being drafted fifth overall by the Jags in 2016 and had a prolific track and field career at Florida State on top of his football duties.

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Tyler Seguin appears to be getting closer to a contract extension with the Dallas Stars.

After it was reported Wednesday that Seguin and the Stars engaged in "more significant" contract discussions over the weekend, the center said talks have picked up recently and that he's hopeful of signing before the season begins, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger.

The development comes around a week after Seguin told reporters, including theScore's John Matisz, that he was disappointed with the lack of discussions regarding an extension.

The 26-year-old is currently set to enter the final season of his six-year, $34.5-million contract, and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer if no deal is reached beforehand.

Seguin is coming off a strong season that saw him post a career-high 40 goals and 78 points in 82 games.

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Patrick Kane is hopping on the Toronto Maple Leafs bandwagon.

While speaking at the NHL's media day, the Chicago Blackhawks forward was asked which team - other than his own - he thinks will win the Stanley Cup. His answer? The Maple Leafs, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger.

Kane continued to praise Toronto, adding that Auston Matthews is his favorite player to watch.

"So big, physical, fun to watch," Kane said. "Being on the ice with him, you really get an appreciation for it."

Kane shared the ice with Matthews this past week as the two trained together in Tampa Bay. They also recently played in a charity game together in Plymouth, Mich., which helped raise money for the family of the late Jim Johansson and USA Hockey.

The 29-year-old will next get a chance to see Matthews play when the Maple Leafs and Blackhawks clash on Oct. 7 in Chicago.

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