

According to the Stars official Twitter account...

Stars and Fabian Brunnstrom agree to terms prior to arbitration hearing this morning: $675,000 one-way contract. One-year deal.

BTW, Bunny made $875,000 in each of the last two years.

Yeah, I'm just going to go ahead and say that either Bunny or his agent came to their senses and didn't want to risk uncontrolled laughter from the arbiter when they were going to make the case that Brunnstrom deserved a raise.

Anyway, it's nice to know that Joe Nieuwendyk has an additional $200,000 in budget space to work with, but he's now obligated to keep him with the big club, and they've jammed up the roster with left wings. With James Neal's eventual (cross your fingers) signing, the Stars would have 14 forwards under contract next year. If Jere Lehtinen should decide he wants to come back, that makes 15.

This leaves the door open for potential trades to rid themselves of the excess, but also covers them in the event that James Neal's negotiations drag on into October and Lehtinen decides NOT to come back.

Release from the Stars after the jump...