FRISCO -- NHL free agency opened on Sunday with bargain shopping but no grand acquisition by the Stars.
General manager Jim Nill learned in a morning telephone call that top free agent John Tavares was returning home to play for Toronto. The process served as a reminder that if center Tyler Seguin gets to the open market at this time next year, the Stars' chances of keeping him drop.
"Every negotiation is different," Nill said. "We're really not going to take too much from John. That was a different situation."
Nill preferred to look at the negotiations with Tavares as an "honor," an indication the Stars are headed in the right direction despite missing the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.