NHL Summer Buzz: Benn, Bishop hoping to have Tavares sign with Stars

Welcome to the NHL Summer Buzz. With the 2018 NHL Draft over and the beginning of free agency on July 1, the 31 NHL teams are making moves to shape their rosters for the 2018-19 season.
Here's a look around the League at the latest doings for Tuesday:

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Benn would love to have Tavares with Stars: report

The Dallas Stars reportedly are among the teams that will get to make an in-person pitch to New York Islanders center John Tavares, who can become an unrestricted free agent Sunday.
Stars captain Jamie Benn said he would be delighted to see Tavares come to Dallas.
"You never know what's going to happen," Benn told the Dallas Morning News on Monday
while taking batting practice
with goaltender Ben Bishop and defenseman Stephen Johns before the Texas Rangers played the San Diego Padres. "Obviously he's a great player in the League and everybody would love to have him. It's nice to have our team's name on the list, and we'll see what happens."
The Stars already have plenty of firepower, including Benn and forwards Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov. Adding Tavares, who had 84 points (37 goals, 47 assists) in 82 games this season, would give Dallas one of the most dangerous offenses in the NHL.
"Wherever he goes it's going to make the team that much better," Bishop said. "You talk to him? You tell him [Dallas] is a great place to live. It's a great city. A great sports town."

Rust re-signs with Penguins

Forward Bryan Rust signed a
four-year, $14 million contract
($3.5 million average annual value) with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. The 26-year-old forward could have become a restricted free agent on July 1.
Rust scored 13 goals and had NHL career-highs in assists (25) and points (38) in 69 games with the Penguins this season, including 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) and was plus-17 in his final 31 games.
Rust scored three goals in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games for Pittsburgh, which was eliminated by the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Second Round.
Pittsburgh selected Rust in the third round (No. 80) of the 2010 NHL Draft. He has 79 points (33 goals, 46 assists) in 181 NHL games and 21 points (16 goals, five assists) in 58 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Rust helped the Penguins win the Cup in 2016 and 2017.
Miller re-signs with Lightning

J.T. Miller signed a five-year, $26.25 million contract ($5.25 million average annual value) with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 25-year-old forward could have become a restricted free agent July 1.
Miller and defenseman Ryan McDonagh were acquired by the Lightning in a trade with the New York Rangers on Feb. 26. He had 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 19 regular-season games with the Lightning, and had eight points (two goals, six assists) in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Between the Rangers and Lightning, he played 82 games for the third straight season, and his 23 goals and 58 points were personal NHL bests.
Tkachuk feeling no pressure to turn pro
Brady Tkachuk, chosen by the Ottawa Senators with the No. 4 pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, said he's not ready to decide yet if he's going to turn pro or return to Boston University for his sophomore season.
"It's a big goal of mine [to play in the NHL], but we'll see if I'm ready or not," Tkachuk said Tuesday during the first day of Senators development camp. "We're going to see how development camp goes and see how I feel and probably make a decision after that."
Tkachuk, 18, has NHL-ready size at 6-foot-3, 196 pounds. He had 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists) in 40 games as a freshman, leading BU in assists and shots on goal (131).
"I have plenty of time this summer (to decide)," he said. "I'm going to see how development camp goes, just enjoy it, soak it all in, soak in the information, discuss it with [the Senators], my family, my adviser. I don't think there's pressure on me to make a decision quick. I'm going to take my time and soak it all in."

Karlsson gets qualifying offer: report

William Karlsson received a qualifying offer from the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, his agent, Michael Deutsch, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. That means they retain negotiating rights to the 25-year-old center, who led the Golden Knights with 78 points and was third in the NHL with 43 goals. He can become a restricted free agent Sunday.
He won the Lady Byng Trophy and was among the top 10 finishers for the Hart and Selke trophies.
Karlsson indicated at the NHL Awards Show on June 20 that he wants to remain with the Golden Knights, who advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in their first NHL season before losing to the Washington Capitals. If Karlsson does not sign the qualifying offer he could elect to go to salary arbitration. The Golden Knights also could try to sign him to a long-term contract.

Khudobin will test free agent market: report

Goaltender Anton Khudobin, who has spent the past two seasons with the Boston Bruins, will take advantage of the interview period
to see what options are available
, the Boston Herald reported. He can become an unrestricted free agent Sunday.
Khudobin, 32, was 16-6-7 with a 2.58 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in 31 games (29 starts) this season.
The Athletic reported that the Bruins are one of several teams that have been in touch with 32-year-old goaltender Carter Hutton, who was 17-7-3 for the St. Louis Blues this season and led the NHL with a 2.09 GAA and .931 save percentage in 32 games (26 starts).

Lindholm would like long-term deal with Flames: report

Forward Elias Lindholm is eager to get started with his new team, the Calgary Flames, who acquired him in a five-player trade with the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. But first there's the matter of a new contract for the pending restricted free agent.
The Flames made him a qualifying offer Monday, but the 23-year-old told Postmedia
he would be interested in more than a one-year contract
.
"It's always nice to have a long-term deal and know where you're going to be for the next few years," he said. "We'll see how it goes, but if I can sign a long-term deal it would be nice."
Lindholm is very familiar with Flames coach Bill Peters, who was hired April 23, three days after resigning as coach of the Hurricanes. Peters said after the trade that Lindholm, who spent the second half of this season as a center, would play right wing on a line with left wing Johnny Gaudreau and center Sean Monahan if the season started tomorrow.
"If I end up playing with Monahan and Johnny, that'd be fun," Lindholm said. "They're two world class players. But wherever I end up playing, it's going to be fun to try something new.
"I know Bill, I played the last four years with him and it'll be easy for me to go there and know the coach and the systems he wants us to play."