Dallas Stars Dealing Homegrown Players Part Of Philosophy
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars made a move at the trade deadline today for Kris Russell. In return, they had to give up another farm-grown player, which is something they seem to be doing more often as of late.
Earlier today, the Dallas Stars did what everyone had been waiting for them to do: make a trade.
With the 2016 NHL trade deadline coming down to the wire with just a little over an hour to go, the Stars finalized a deal with the Calgary Flames for veteran defenseman Kris Russell.
This trade is expected to help further solidify a shaky Dallas Stars defensive core, but it came with a cost. As all trades do, something was expected in return. The Stars had to get the price right for Calgary, and they eventually did.
The Stars sent growing defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka, prospect forward Brett Pollock, and a conditional second-round pick to the Flames in exchange for Russell.
This may have been the first time since Jim Nill took over as general manager of the Stars in April 2013 that a sizable chunk of the Stars fan base has not completely agreed with a trade.
The fact of the matter is, while Nill has been able to pull off some luxurious trades over the past few years, they have all come at the price of the future. The majority of Nill’s deals have been picking up “win soon” veterans and dishing out prospects that could be beneficial to the Stars’ scheme down the road.
Some of those names include Alex Chiasson, Nicholas Paul, Reilly Smith, and Ryan Garbutt. All of these players were homegrown and working their way into becoming effective NHL-level players in the Stars system. Another piece fell into place today with Jokipakka and Pollock being dealt.
It’s disappointing to see these players sent from the promising path they were paving in Dallas to an unsure future with a team far away from playoff contention. These two players were working their tails off in preparation for full-time spots on the Dallas Stars squad. And now they are gone.
Jim Nill’s philosophy is the reason for all of this, and each GM hoists his own focus. Since joining the Stars, Nill has focused on the “win-now” frame of mind. Adding some of the league’s top talent in exchange for the future of the organization is a viable strategy, though some may disagree. But for those who don’t agree, just look at where the Stars are right now.
Yes, it sucks to lose a humble and determined guy like Jokipakka. Sure it hurts to lose a fan favorite like “Kevin,” as he was so commonly referred to as. But as it has been reiterated so many times by so many different people, the NHL is a business. The players have to understand that when they first enter the league, as do the fans when they first start following a team.
It can be difficult at times, especially if you become emotionally attached with different players or members of the team. There is always a silver lining, though. That lining is the fact that the GM made that move because he believed it was best for the organization as a whole. That’s what Nill has done so many times since beginning his career in Dallas, and we’ve had to deal with separation more than once.
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The new acquisition will likely become a fan favorite, as the other players have. Russell is characterized as hard-nosed, physically determined, and even a “ball of hate.” So in other words, Antoine Roussel.
The utmost thanks goes out to D Jyrki Jokipakka. In 91 games, he scored two goals and tallied 14 assists with the Stars. Not bad for a guy drafted in the seventh round of the 2011 Entry Draft. It was fun to watch Jokipakka grow into an NHL-level defender, and we wish him the best of luck in his next endeavor.
Next: Stars Finally Break Silence, Trade For Kris Russell
The Dallas Stars proved today that they are in a win-now state of mind going forward. The Stars hit the ice in just a little bit against the Detroit Red Wings for their final matchup of February. We’ll see where their minds are from here on out.