Hey Heika: Can Stars afford to sign both Heiskanen, Klingberg long-term?

Hey there, so good to be back for another season of hockey, in whatever form it takes.
To be completely honest, I was worried about this season. The Stars sort of came out of nowhere to win in the playoffs, they're missing Tyler Seguin (hip) and Ben Bishop (knee) for much of the season with injuries, and Joe Pavelski, Alexander Radulov and Jamie Benn aren't getting any younger.
So, yeah, when COVID struck and the first four games were postponed, there was a little trepidation that Dallas would have to start with a partial roster and try to fight through a new division with unknown opponents.

But Jim Nill has built a strong team, and Rick Bowness has really embraced his chance to be a head coach, and I truly believe the Stars are in a good place. They have waves of players coming in different age groups, and they seem to have a really high-end NHL group of defensemen. That can carry you a long way.
Now, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida and the Stars have come screaming out of the gate in the division, so this is going to be a battle until the end. Because they play each other eight times, there's a good chance nobody is going to get too far ahead, but you can see how intense games are going to eventually become because of the familiarity.
It should be fun.
All right, let's get to your questions:
Mike, so good to have you back on the beat. With a team that is meshing well together (even with so much movement up and down), do you see the Stars trying to add anyone for a Cup push? -- @rewdy214
Mike Heika:Hey Parker, because the Stars have had to deal with injuries, there could be a tiny salary cap opening when the trade deadline comes around (April 12 this year). That said, Jim Nill has said he would probably look more for a player for player trade if a need arose. Those are tough to pull off.
My guess is they will stand pat and trust the depth of the organization. If either Tyler Seguin or Ben Bishop (who are both scheduled to be back in late March or early April) look to be a concern, they might make a move then. But the hope is that adding Seguin and Bishop will be just like getting two big trades late in the season.
I ask this all the time, but I'm gonna do it again: What happens with Klingberg this summer? Miro will be looking at a massive raise this summer. Is there a way to sign both without handicapping the team? -- @Justinschmidt88
Heika:Justin, I ask myself this same thing all of the time. There are so many moving parts to this. One, what does Miro sign for? If it's a bridge deal, I really believe there is enough room for a Klingberg extension. Two, what does John want? If it's near the seven years at $8.8 million that Alex Pietrangelo got in Vegas, I don't think the Stars want to do that. If it's the seven years at $6.5 million that Torey Krug got, that could make more sense. The Stars will have both Joe Pavelski ($7 million per) and Alexander Radulov ($6.25 million per) off the books by the time Klingberg's new contract kicks in, so that should give them plenty of wiggle room.
It's my belief that the Stars want to keep both Klingberg and Heiskanen, and feel they have the room to do that. Again, a lot will depend on what each player wants. The big question then becomes if they can't get it done, do they trade Klingberg in the summer or ride out next season? If they play well this year and look to have a chance at the Cup, I think they might just ride it out on Klingberg's contract and see what happens. But, of course, that is a huge guess.

Where do you see the Stars when Seguin/Bishop come back. Do they have a real chance again? Also, where do you see Segs when he is back in the lineup? -- @hockey_inside99
Heika:Both players are doing well, and on target for late March, early April. The big question is how they look when they return and how long it takes to get them up and running. The season ends on May 8, so there is definitely time before the playoffs.
I think the Stars will be in a good place, but they definitely would love the upgrade at forward and goalie.
As for how Seguin fits, that's an interesting question. You would think he would go with Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov, but we saw last year that decision meant Roope Hintz saw his minutes cut. It will be a jigsaw puzzle for sure. If Pavelski is playing well with Radulov, you almost want to leave them together. If Hintz is playing well with Gurianov, same thinking goes there. Maybe you put Benn with Seguin and spread some wingers around, but doing that will create a chore to use everyone and get the most out of them.
Is the plan to have Jake Oettinger as the backup to Anton Khudobin for the time being? -- @aaronschickWX
Heika:Yes. He has looked good, and he is the future in goal for this team.
Anton Khudobin is 34. Ben Bishop is 34. Each has two years remaining on his contract after this season. So while it could be tough for Oettinger to get a normal run up to being a No. 1 goalie next year and the next, the Stars need to do everything they can to help his development at age 22. He has the trust of the coaching staff right now, so he'll get plenty of starts.
I love Miro, but how would the Stars be if they had drafted Cale Makar instead of Heiskanen? I read a lot that say Heiskanen is a Norris-caliber player. Makar won the Calder, is offensively dynamic and racks up points. Doesn't seem to be a slouch defensively either. Thanks! -- @jlux007
Heika:It's a fun debate. The Stars had three really good choices at No. 3 in 2017. Heiskanen, Makar and Elias Pettersson, who has been a fantastic forward for the Vancouver Canucks. I think the general feeling last season was that Makar might have had flashier moves, but wasn't as good defensively as Heiskanen. This year, Miro is off to a slower start, so the debate will rage.
You can go back and forth on this for the rest of their careers, and different people will have different opinions. I can tell you the Stars are happy they took Heiskanen and believe he will be a franchise cornerstone for years to come.

How good is Oettinger? Is he rated as one of best goalkeepers of his generation? Looks exciting! -- @tasjolie
Heika:Oettinger was taken in the first round in 2017 and was ranked first among North American goalies by Central Scouting at the time. He currently is ranked fifth by The Hockey Writers among goalie prospects.
The Stars feel he's the real deal, and they actually pulled a trade at the draft to move up to pick him. Now, he just has to get the games and the experience.
I have been impressed with how Tanner Kero and other taxi squad players have plugged in. What are your thoughts on this squad? -- @soonerfan432
Heika:I love the concept of the taxi squad, and I love the way the Stars have stocked it. The Stars scouts deserve credit for players like Thomas Harley and Jason Robertson, and assistant general manager Scott White deserves credit for players like Tanner Kero and Joel L'Esperance, who both came out of Michigan Tech.
Kero is a smart veteran who doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He's 28, so you can put him in and pull him out of the lineup, and it doesn't seem to faze him much. He played 72 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, so he has the experience.
All the veterans on the taxi squad have to do is look at how Joel Kiviranta changed his career in the playoffs last season. They could have the same opportunity, and they should embrace the chance that is in front of them.
Think there's anything to Roope and Miro having slow scoring starts? Obviously, Miro was dynamite in the playoffs, but he's yet to really flash this year, and Roope doesn't seem to have the burst he once did. Is he a top-line forward? -- @mbherzog
Heika:Hintz has six points (one goal, five assists) in five games, so I don't see that as a slow start. He's battled a couple of injuries, but he's been playing 17:55 a game, so I think he's taking the next step. I definitely think he's a top line forward.
Heiskanen is a little trickier. He has five points in seven games and he's averaging 23 minutes a game, but he doesn't look the same. He's not as dominant as he was in the playoffs.
There's an argument to be made that he lost some of his zip because the power play is messed up with all of the injuries and he is sort of fish out of water there, but Heiskanen usually doesn't let stuff like that bother him. We'll watch him. The expectations are so high that we don't really allow for the ups and downs of a regular season. My guess is he will improve as the season goes on.

What's the story with Jason Robertson? Is he going to get another shot at the roster? Also, what's the living situation for the rookies? Are they rooming together, staying with vets or living in a hotel? -- @hockeytime42
Heika:Robertson is part of a large group that are all fighting for ice time. Clearly, the coaches have liked Tanner Kero and Joel L'Esperance better at this point, and that's just part of being a professional athlete. When the AHL team starts playing (this weekend) that opens a door for Robertson to go down and get some ice time. We'll see if the Stars go that path.
Bottom line, Robertson is only 21 and still has a lot of developing to do. The Stars like him and feel he'll be great.
As for rooming, I believe each young player has his own separate apartment provided by the team because of the COVID protocol. They do not want players to have roommates.
What do you think this off-season looks like for Dickinson and Oleksiak? They feel like guys you have to keep around, but will it be possible with Miro getting a huge extension, and would that mean Cogliano and Comeau are gone after this year? -- @benpatterson33
Heika:Dickinson is an RFA, so the Stars can retain his rights and find a way to keep him. Oleksiak is a UFA, and that makes this tricky. If the Stars try to sign him before the expansion draft, he could get taken because the Stars can protect only three defensemen (Klingberg, Lindell, Heiskanen). If they allow him to go to unrestricted free agency, he could be tempted and possibly leave.
The Stars should have the money. They have the expiring contracts of Andrew Cogliano ($3.25 million) and Blake Comeau ($2.4 million), and that should give them plenty of space. Could they try to keep either Comeau or Cogliano on a cheaper deal? Sure, but other teams might come calling.
Bold question: Who do you think will be the next captain? I say Dellandrea. -- @thetesar
Heika:Since Jamie Benn has four more years on his contract after this season, it's a tough guess. Seguin and Klingberg would be candidates if they are still here. Miro Heiskanen doesn't seem to have the personality, but that honor is often given to the team's best player, so he has to be in the mix.
I like your logic on Dellandrea as a younger player who would be ready by then. Another guy who could fit that bill is Jason Dickinson. He seems like a guy who could really be at the right place in his career at that time.

Some submissions have been edited for brevity and clarity. Have a question for a future Hey Heika mailbag? Tweet it to @MikeHeika and use #HeyHeika.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.