On the Dallas Stars …
- Bill Whitehead: Valeri Nichushkin is reportedly on the trading block.
- NHL.com: Stars GM Jim Nill likes his team and won’t make a deal for the sake of making a deal.
“We’re in a good spot,” Nill told a gathering of Stars season ticket holders. “We don’t have to do something. If there’s something there we’ll do it if it makes us better. But I’m not going to give up something for a short-term fix for a month and go from there. It’s not worth it.”
Nill is reluctant to give up some of their prospects in the AHL that teams are asking about.
“We’ve got four young defensemen, five or six young forwards,” Nill said. “We’ve got three or four guys in the top-20 scoring (Travis Morin, Brendan Ranford, Jason Dickinson) and another guy who’s out for the season in Devin Shore who was leading the league in scoring. When I talk about trades, when we got to make trades, that’s who everyone wants and I’m not giving them up. That’s too big a part of our future.”
Nill is hesitant to disrupt team chemistry.
“These guys have battled all year,” Nill said. “You bring somebody in, that means somebody else is sitting out. You have to be careful of that. If there’s a hockey trade there, we’re open to that. But we’re excited where we’re at.”
On the Arizona Coyotes…
- Darren Dreger: The Coyotes may have backed off their previously tabled contract offer to Mikkel Boedker, which adds to the belief that he will be traded.
- Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic: Coyotes GM Don Maloney said that he won’t be purging his roster like he did last year. There is still some uncertainty if they will add, subtract or stay the same. The players would like Maloney to add, sending a message that they can still compete for a playoff spot.
“If there’s a chance to make our team better, hopefully we’re able to do it and go for it,” Michalek said. “But it’s management’s decision, and I just have to go out and do my job no matter what. It’s a tight group here. It’s tough losing anybody, so hopefully it doesn’t happen. But it’s part of the game.”