Report: Pavelski expected to sign 3-year deal with Stars

One of this summer's most coveted free agents could already be off the table.

Forward Joe Pavelski is reportedly poised to sign a three-year deal with the Dallas Stars, according to TSN's Darren Dreger. The contract is reported to carry an average annual value of $7 million, according to The Athletic's Sean Shapiro.

It's believed that forward Corey Perry is also an option for the Stars, Dreger adds.

The Stars have a projected $12.47 million in cap space available, not including the potential Pavelski signing. The longtime Shark would join a Dallas core that includes blue-chippers Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Alex Radulov, all of who are in their prime and under contract for at least three more seasons.

The Sharks, on the other hand, have a projected $14.84 million in cap space remaining but still need to accommodate several players, including restricted free-agent forwards Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc, making it difficult for them to bring Pavelski back.

Pavelski was selected by the Sharks in the seventh round of the 2003 NHL Draft and has spent all 13 years of his career with the franchise, including four seasons as the team's captain.

The soon-to-be 35-year-old has hit the 35-goal mark in four of the previous six seasons and is coming off a 38-goal campaign in 2018-19.

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