One of the craziest teams to figure out has to be the Dallas Stars. Jim Nill faces an uphill road trying to help this team make the playoffs. Injuries and inconsistency have been maddening for Dallas.
Will they buy and how much? Those are questions which must be asked. The St. Louis Blues’ surge (ten straight wins) forces Dallas’s hand at least a bit.
Dallas Stars — Facts and figures…
Again, the salary cap appears unkind to Dallas with just $2.7 million in deadline cap space. However, if they LTIR their long-term injured players, that number jumps up to $11 million. Magically, that is one big-ticket rental and a bit more. Dallas is above the mess that is the final wildcard spot by just four points. They have lost two straight games and still are without Ben Bishop. Hopefully, Bishop returns soon.
Jim Montgomery, Jim Nill, and Dallas possess multiple needs. For one, they made a trade for Andrew Cogliano already. Also, management declaring Anton Khudobin all but untouchable means Dallas can focus elsewhere.
It is clear Dallas needs scoring help from the wing. Swinging for Artemi Panarin feels unrealistic. The asking price likely is more than what Jim Nill can stomach. However, one never knows with these things. Anything can happen. Honestly, let’s just say the chances are a good bit below 50%.
So if the miracle does not happen, then what? Here lies a list of players Dallas may covet before next Monday.
Dallas Stars and their wish list
Andre Burakovsky — The Washington Capitals’ forward appears on many lists as a fresh start candidate. Inevitably, Dallas may have to make a decision on who to give up. On the other hand, a chance at acquiring a 24-year-old forward with offensive upside is tempting. His $3 million AAV means Burakovsky would get qualified at no less than $3.3 million next year. This is a player who could easily average more than a point every other game in the right situation. Washington playing him basically at third or fourth-line minutes serves little purpose.
If Dallas were to acquire him, what do they send back? It might involve a Mattias Janmark, Julius Honka, etc.
Gustav Nyquist — Nyquist comes up in almost every discussion now from the Detroit Red Wings. How much does Detroit want for him? This again is not last year’s market. Nyquist fired in just 13 goals so far but has 46 points in 56 games. The goal total may not come close to his career high of 28, yet 20 is reasonable for this season. It is his space creation and explosiveness which would be most welcome to the Dallas second line. Nill likely had a say in drafting Nyquist in Detroit so the connections are obvious.
Now, how much could this cost? Detroit is up against the cap themselves. Their price for Nyquist is undoubtedly too high currently. If it comes down enough and maybe Dallas can swing a couple young players into the mix, a deal could occur. Nyquist makes $4.75 million and is on an expiring deal. This could be an audition for a long-term signing.
Just a couple more…
Mats Zuccarello — Zuccarello looked as good as dealt during the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline but was not. This year appears much the same but some reports suggest New York may try to re-sign him. Either way, his name is out there. Zuccarello snared 22 points in his last 15 games. This includes seven goals. The smallish forward earns $4.5 million this year and is a UFA next season. The problem lies in the fact that he is now 31. For as good of a second-line plug as he is, does Dallas take the risk?
New York wants quite a return for Zuccarello otherwise they probably bring him back next year. It’s like fishing. Can Dallas dangle enough pieces to help New York bite? Zuccarello may be the priciest forward in this second tier of sorts.
Wayne Simmonds — Simmonds seems the least likely fit yet fills a physical need. His power-play prowess is not what it once was — partially due to injury as well as age. Is he closer to a 50-60 point player? At this point, no one knows. Would Dallas overpay for a chance to boost their power play and third line? He earns $3.975 million and is on an expiring deal. The previous three players possess speed that Simmonds does not have. Dallas probably needs a shifty scorer as opposed to what Simmonds can bring.
What if Stone, Duchene, and Dzingel become available?
Dallas might try for Stone but again that price will be as astronomical or more than Artemi Panarin. Jim Nill probably does not have the assets to make that work. They should kick the tires on it but Ryan Dzingel would be a more, ideal choice. His cap hit makes it an easier deal and the return likely does not involve a first-round pick. Mark Duchene becomes too much of a headache and Dallas’s need for a center is not that high. It intrigues many to see how this all turns out.
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