Dallas Stars Still Cannot Be Considered Buyers Or Sellers
By Josh Clark
The NHL trade deadline is quickly approaching, and the Dallas Stars are still on the fence. When will they finally be considered either buyers or sellers? That decision could be right around the corner.
The NHL Trade Deadline is scheduled for March 1, 2017.
With the deadline only 21 days away, there is already plenty of talk and rumors circling around it. Due to the expansion draft coming up in the summer, many teams are looking to unload players that they will not be able to protect once June rolls around. Not to mention the regular cycle of soon-to-be free agents who will likely be traded to teams contending for a Stanley Cup.
All in all, it’s a time of year that is always filled with names and a lot of rumors. But all of the rumors simply give way to more angst and excitement/nervousness.
And for the Dallas Stars, the deadline always seems to be an anxious and action-packed time.
Dallas Stars
Ever since Jim Nill began his tenure with the Dallas Stars at the start of the 2013-14 season, the annual trade deadline has always been filled with some sort of move. For example, the Stars dealt Stephane Robidas and Dan Ellis away in 2013-14.
The following year, the Stars dealt Anders Lindback (though the move was a few days prior to the deadline). Last season, Dallas sent D Jyrki Jokipakka to Calgary in exchange for Kris Russell.
So it’s clear that Nill likes to act on an opportunity the second that it pops up. And for the past three years, the Stars have either been a lock for a playoff berth or in the running for one.
This season, there has been an unexplainable about of disbelief that has come along with the year. The fans aren’t excited anymore, the games have lost all sort of sincerity, and the Dallas Stars have truly lost all forms of energy. It’s just a depressing time to be a Stars fan.
Though the times are tough, the Stars find themselves just five points out of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. While that is a sizable margin, Dallas is on the cusp and a couple of quick wins could drop them right back into a playoff spot.
With the trade deadline nearing, what would you classify the Stars as? Buyers or sellers?
As much as Stars fans would like the answer to this question now, there still is not one. That’s because the Stars have yet to determine whether they will be buying or selling at this deadline.
Sure it would be easy for Dallas to unload players like Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya, and there its plenty of speculation that they will. It would get rid of two expiring contracts and help the Stars build towards the future.
But why get rid of them if you could use them for a playoff push? I know it looks bleak at the moment, but the Dallas Stars still have the opportunity to jump back into a playoff spot. It will require going on a pretty significant run. But with their lineup, anything is possible if they can learn how to use it to their best abilities.
Next: Stars Given Opportunity In Critical Week
There are 29 games remaining in the Dallas Stars 2016-17 campaign, and there is still plenty that is up in the air. The Stars will need to sort some things out over the next few weeks that will help determine what Nill will be thinking when the deadline rolls around. But things are still too tight.
Will Dallas put on a blowout sale and send everyone packing that they can in exchange for future pieces? Or will Nill be looking to add one or two more players to help with the playoff run? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.