Dallas Stars Trying To Avoid Buying Out A Goaltender
The NHL buyout window has been open for two days now and the Dallas Stars have yet to make any moves in their goaltending department. Is that a problem? Not at all.
For the past few seasons, buyout talks have lingered within the Dallas Stars organization. Every time the offseason have come around, there have been speculations about the Stars buying out a certain player.
And every time, the talks were directed towards the crease, specifically at Kari Lehtonen. Ever since Lehtonen put together a pathetic run in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs (.885 SV%, 3.29 GAA) which contributed largely to the Stars being eliminated in the first round, his legitimacy as a contending starter have been in question.
After 2014-15, which happened to be one of the worst seasons of Lehtonen’s career statistically, fans wanted his head on the chopping block. Whether it was through trade or buyout, they wanted him gone.
As we all know, Lehtonen stuck around and formed half of the Finnish tandem along with Antti Niemi that tended the Stars’ crease in 2015-16. Though the duo was rather successful when viewed as a unit, their playoff performances were frustrating, specifically in the second round against the St. Louis Blues. Neither goalie finished with a save percentage above .900 and once again gave Dallas reason to question their future in the crease.
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Some talks arose in the 2016 offseason, but the Dallas Stars ultimately stuck with the same duo for the 2016-17 season. I won’t get too into detail on how poor the results were, because you are probably still banging your head against the wall. In the end, the Stars turned in their second worst season in franchise history with 79 points, and consistent goaltending was one of their biggest problems.
Now that we are in the 2017 offseason, there’s no more hiding it: the Stars HAVE to get rid of a goaltender. And that’s not a suggestion, that’s a requirement.
On May 12, the Dallas Stars signed 30-year-old Ben Bishop to a six-year deal, officially making him the third goalie in the Stars’ scheme. Considering that Bishop, who is a proven elite starter, is likely going to take on the role of full-time starter next year, at least one goaltender will have to go this offseason.
And for the first time in what seems like forever, Lehtonen’s name is not the one tied to buyout rumors: it’s Niemi’s. The 33-year-old goalie has spent two seasons with the Stars and has turned in the worst numbers of his career (.900 SV%, 2.92 GAA). Last season, Lehtonen was in large part the only thing that kept the Stars’ crease somewhat afloat for the year.
Niemi struggled for the majority of the season to find consistency. Besides a strong run at home in the month of December, there’s not much left to talk about.
So now his name is tied to the buyout talks. But considering the NHL buyout window opened on Thursday morning, why hasn’t he been bought out yet?
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It’s a good question, but not one that should worry Stars fans. In fact, this might be a good thing.
In the end, just remember that Nill has to rid himself of a goalie before opening night. He knows that. But he might be going about it a different route than simply buying Niemi (or potentially Lehtonen, though that seems unlikely) out.
What Nill could be doing pertains to the expansion draft. Considering the Dallas Stars will protect Ben Bishop, both Lehtonen and Niemi are eligible to be drafted. So what if Nill tries to swing a deal?
Between Saturday afternoon when the lists are due and Wednesday night when Vegas announces their first roster, Nill could call Vegas GM George McPhee and make a deal. It could go something like this:
Vegas drafts Niemi from the Stars, and in return, Dallas deals Vegas a draft pick or two or possibly even another player.
It could be a win-win. While the Golden Knights could think about keeping Niemi around as a veteran goaltender, they probably have three other goaltenders in mind that they would rather have starting for them.
So if they draft Niemi, they could then buy him out and take him off both the Stars’ and Knights’ hands. If Vegas has problems with cap space after the draft due to an overstocking, buying out Niemi could alleviate some pressure and give them an out. And in addition to that, they would also be getting extra incentives from Dallas.
Meanwhile, Dallas would be able to keep all of their current players that will have to be exposed and will be rid of Niemi’s contract altogether.
It may be a long shot, especially considering the amount of young talent that will be left unprotected by Dallas. But if Nill can get in McPhee’s ear and sweeten the deal, it could be a possibility. And that may be why the Stars have yet to act on the buyout front.
If the expansion draft passes and Niemi is not taken, expect the Dallas Stars to buy him out. It’s improbable that another team will trade for him when they already have a stocked goaltending lineup of their own, especially after the year Niemi had.
Next: Which Position Will The Golden Knights Take From?
The expansion draft could end up being a blessing in disguise for the Stars. The goaltending situation has them handcuffed a little bit, but the buyout phase is their safety net. If all else fails, they always have that safety net. More will be determined over the next week.