On the Dallas Stars …
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: (chat) Heika notes that aside from how Tyler Seguin is skating with Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey, should watch how he plays on right wing. It could be an option to move Cody Eakin up to the top line.
There is the possibility that the Stars look to trade either Jamie Oleksiak or Patrik Nemeth.
If the Stars are looking for a goalie, the guess is another team will be looking for a forward, possibly Valeri Nichushkin, Brett Ritchie or Jason Dickinson.
Don’t think the Stars would want to trade Julius Honka.
It may be a smart option for the Stars that they are starting with Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi. They worked well together last year and if they start off well, could make trading one a bit easier. With the expansion draft coming, some teams may look at trades they normally wouldn’t.
With the addition of Jiri Hudler, and once Nichushkin is signed, they will have 14 fowards. If they plan on going with eight defensemen, then they would need to either put someone on waivers or trade someone.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Mike Halford of Pro Hockey Talk: Marc-Andre Fleury wants to be the No. 1 goalie in Pittsburgh, but after Matt Murray helped the Penguins bring home the Cup, he could enter the season as their No. 2. It’s not known in Pittsburgh how their goaltending situation will work out.
With the expansion draft coming next year, and with Fleury holding a no-movement clause, as it stands the Penguins would have to leave Murray unprotected.
There is no chance that the Penguins would leave Murray unprotected, so Fleury will likely be moved at some point.
The Calgary Flames contacted the Penguins about Fleury, but that was before they traded for Brian Elliott. Elliott does only have one year left on his deal, and if he doesn’t have a good year they could go a different direction.