On the Dallas Stars …
NHL.com: Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill was on SiriusXM NHL radio talking about the Stars and the approaching NHL trade deadline.
“I’m going to know in the next week or 10 days where we’re at,” Nill told SiriusXM NHL radio on Monday. “We’ll have to make decisions moving forward after that bye week.”
The Stars are currently on the outside looking in. They have some pending free agents that could be moved – Patrick Sharp, Patrick Eaves and Johnny Oduya.
Looking at cases for the Dallas Stars to ‘Stand Pat”, be “Buyers”, and to be “Sellers” at the trade deadline …
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Looking at some reasons why the Dallas Stars should stand pat at the trade deadline. Injuries have helped derail the Stars season.
Both Patrick Sharp and Patrick Eaves (pending free agents) have been loyal and may be interested in returning next year. Not trading them would allow that Stars some extra time to possibly discuss a contract extension.
Ales Hemsky could also be returning soon, so he could help boost their playoff chances.
If they end up holding pat and don’t make the playoffs, they lose out on acquiring some future assets for not trading pending free agents.
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Looking at some reasons why the Dallas Stars should be buyers at the trade deadline. The Stars still have a shot at making the playoffs.
Adding a goalie like Marc-Andre Fleury or Ben Bishop would definitely help their playoff chances.
The Stars would likely have to send Antti Niemi and his $4.5 million cap hit for one more year back.
Bishop is a pending UFA, and the Lightning may look to move him if they think they’ll miss the playoffs. The Stars would have to include draft pick(s) or prospect(s) if they want the Lightning to take a goalie back.
If they want to make a push for the playoffs, they need to do it now as they are running out of time.
Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Looking at some reasons why the Dallas Stars should be sellers at the trade deadline. They’d have to go on a pretty good run to get in and pass several teams. Acquiring future assets for pending free agents is a plus.
Patrick Sharp is in the last year of his deal, but has had concussions this year and carries a $5.9 million cap hit – $1.6 million at the deadline. Stars might have to retain salary.
Patrick Eaves is on a friendly $1 million deal. A bidding war might get them a conditional first round pick.
Defenseman Johnny Oduya, if healthy, has some trade value.
Gaining some future assets and allowing some younger players more ice time to close out the season isn’t a bad idea.
Fans and some veterans may not be too happy with this route though.
