Dallas Stars Potentially Upgrading Back End This Weekend

The 2016 NHL entry draft is finally here. Though the Dallas Stars own six picks in the draft, they will more than likely be joining a swarm of teams in making big trades and deals.

It’s finally here, people. Welcome to the 2016 NHL entry draft. The draft begins in just a few hours and goes into tomorrow afternoon, with the first round finishing up tonight and rounds 2-7 commencing tomorrow morning.

This year’s draft has a vastly different look than its predecessors, and this new look is part of what makes this draft that much more interesting. With an expansion draft officially confirmed for the summer of 2017, teams are beginning to prepare and the draft gives them one of the best opportunities to do so.

Aside from the actual drafting of the talented prospect class, all 30 NHL teams will more than likely be in action all night and all of Saturday morning. From trading picks to trading the rights of a player and even the player himself, there will be plenty to keep up with.

The rumors have been circulating for the past few weeks, and it seems as though everything is starting to boil just in time for the draft. Will Columbus trade the third overall pick? Will goaltenders Ben Bishop, Jimmy Howard, or Marc-Andre Fleury be finding new homes via trade? Is P.K. Subban really on the block? What about Cam Fowler? And where is Steven Stamkos?

As you can tell, it’s going to be quite an exciting time. And, as they do on a regular basis, it looks as though the Dallas Stars could potentially be in the middle of it as it all unfolds.

This past year, the Stars took the league by storm, finishing first overall in the Central Division and Western Conference. They improved on their point total from the 14-15 season by an astonishing 17-point margin and advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs before falling in seven games.

Now with an offseason of change approaching them, they will likely need some help from other teams. The Stars are working to round out the last few rough edges of the team so they can break through as a stronger unit next year and make a run at the Cup. That being said, a trade or free agent signing will be necessary in certain situations.

With the Dallas Stars more than likely waving goodbye to all four of their NHL veteran defensemen who are pending UFAs, the need for blue line help is pretty substantial. The Stars attempted to replace veterans with rookies on defense in 14-15, and it ended up burying any chance they had at the postseason.

So where do they go? Does Stars general manager Jim Nill make a move at Ducks defender Cam Fowler, who is being surrounded quickly by trade rumors since his name hit the block last night? The 24-year old defenseman is a strong and capable defender at a young age with plenty of potential left. Picking Fowler up could help turn the Stars blue line into a shutdown group.

Then there are the rumors floating around about aging defender Brian Campbell from the Florida Panthers. The 37-year old just finished up an eight-year, $57.14 million contract that he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. He is running out of time rather quickly considering his age, but his veteran leadership could be extremely useful and affordable with the Stars’ cap dilemma.

What about Dan Hamhuis? The Vancouver defender is just finishing up with the prime of his career at the age of 33, but still has plenty to offer. There have been talks for months about Hamhuis and the Dallas Stars, and his presence on the first pairing with John Klingberg would turn this Stars’ defense into a threatening bunch.

must read: A Look At The Stars' Remaining Options On Defense

But aside from the plethora of defensive rumors, there are others insisting that the Stars are still in the hunt for an ace in goal. Nill has made numerous comments insisting that Dallas will not be buying out Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi this offseason, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t trying to move one of them.

At this point, it seems that Dallas will stick with the two Finns (especially considering the Stars have over $10 million sunk into the duo, more than any other NHL team). But Nill has surprised before, and he can surprise again. Ben Bishop and Marc-Andre Fleury remain the two hottest goalie targets at the moment, and Nill could definitely be looking into it.

On the second day of the draft last season, the Dallas Stars started out the day reportedly “very close” to finalizing a trade with the New York Rangers for goaltender Cam Talbot. Then just around an hour later, the Stars announced that they had traded for Niemi. On draft weekend, anything is possible.

Next: Stars Go 0/4 At NHL Awards

Whether the Dallas Stars are involved or not, expect at least one or two huge deals to go down in the next 30 hours or so. Something tells me that Nill will be making his usual rounds, eagerly awaiting his next opportunity.

Welcome to the party, Dallas.