Boston Bruins’ Tyler Seguin: “I want to stay here and start a life here”

Flickr User: slidingsideways

Over the past number of weeks, members of the 2010 NHL Draft class have been cashing in on their high levels of performance with brand new multi-million dollar contracts.

First, it was seventh overall selection Jeff Skinner who would sign a six-year, $34.4 million dollar pact ($5.733 AAV) with the Carolina Hurricanes back on August 8. Just fourteen days later, the number one overall pick in the draft, Edmonton’s Taylor Hall, inked a new seven-year, $42 million dollar contract ($6.000 AAV) to remain in Oiler blue until the conclusion of the 2019-2020 season.

This pair of contracts for fellow 2010 NHL draftees and third-year pros has most certainly set the market for the draft’s second overall selection, Boston forward Tyler Seguin. After setting career highs in both goals (29) and assists (38) during the 2011-12 season, the 20-year-old Brampton, Ontario native is likely looking for a 5-7 year contract extension with an average annual salary somewhere between $5.5-$6.5 million dollars.

While no deal has yet to be reached between the player and the team, no. 19 seemed to be quite optimistic about getting a deal done with the Bruins sooner rather than later, when speaking with reporters just prior to hitting the links at the ninth annual Boston Bruins Foundation charity golf tournament in Bolton, Massachusetts.

“There’s been discussions, and it’s  looking good. I’m looking forward to hopefully playing in Boston for many years.” — Tyler Seguin

In regards to any sort of timetable for a potential deal, Seguin remarked that “It’d be nice” to come to an agreement in advance of the September 15 expiration date of the NHL’s current collective bargaining agreement.

If there’s one thing we can be sure of, the reason behind the hold-up in Seguin’s contract extension most certainly isn’t about the player’s feelings towards the city of Boston.

“I want to stay here (in Boston) and start a life here. That’s what I’m looking for.” – Tyler Seguin

Despite a new deal not being reached yet, it does appear as if negotiations are going on as planned and that a new contract for the B’s star sniper may be on the way very soon.

“We’ve been talking and it’s been all positive things so far.” — Tyler Seguin

Unfortunately for Seguin, and the rest of the players in the NHL for that matter, he may end up with a contract without paychecks… Well, at least for the time being.

With the NHL owners set to lockout their players this Saturday afternoon, the October 11 start date of the 2012-13 hockey season is in serious jeopardy. Barring a miraculous turn of events during organized meetings this week in New York City, players all across the globe will be stuck in a difficult situation. The exact rules and regulations of which players will be eligible to skate in the American Hockey League, which will be allowed in-season call-ups from their Canadian Hockey League squads and which will head west to join European clubs have yet to be clearly identified. For Seguin, both AHL (Providence) and overseas hockey remain open options, though he hasn’t yet decided where he will play in the event of another NHL lockout.

“I want to be playing hockey, NHL first. I’ve thought about the AHL, I’ve thought about overseas, but nothing firm right now.” – Tyler Seguin

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