Dallas Stars Most Drastic Trade Option: Tyler Seguin for Carey Price
The offseason has not even begun yet for the NHL and there are already crazy rumors being concocted. One of those includes the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens.
The Dallas Stars will inevitably have a number of changes in the offseason ahead. While they are right around the corner, exactly what and who they will impact is still in the air.
Of course that means trade rumors of all sorts, from the sensible to the obscure. And the rumor mill has already begun.
Ken Campbell, senior writer and editor for The Hockey News, tweeted this earlier in the week suggesting a trade the Stars’ Jim Nill should consider.
This is nothing more than a theory/suggestion, but it does raise some interesting thoughts about Dallas’ future and the false sense of security players like Tyler Seguin might have.
If I'm Jim Nill, I call Bergevin and ask him if he'd be interested in Tyler Seguin, Jamie Oleksiak, Kari Lehtonen for Carey Price. Discuss.
— Ken Campbell (@Ken_Campbell27) April 23, 2017
Eye-Opening Impact
While he might have learned his position on an NHL team is never absolutely secure unless if a complete no-trade clause is in writing early on, Seguin and other Stars have been largely deemed shoe-ins to stay with the team. Although there will by no means be a complete rebuild of the club, the right trade could result in some shocking moves.
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Blackhawk Up
That is not to say that fan and franchise favorites like Seguin and Jamie Benn will be putting their days of wearing victory green behind them. It is just simply to point out the possibility of moving them in the next few years, especially in the case that Dallas does not perform up to expectations again.
Feasibility of the Deal
Now whether or not Nill would legitimately consider sending his top center, quality up-and-coming defenseman with size and part-time starting goaltender to the Habs for Carey Price is highly unlikely. Seguin is about to hit the top of his prime, which drives up the return value on trading him but could lead to a mass of regret later on.
Considering the trade to acquire Seguin back in July of 2014 is still one of the more commonly talked about trades in recent history, it is unlikely that Nill would even talk about moving him. No less talk about moving No. 91 for a player with one year left on his current contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
More than the Seguin part of the deal are the two other pieces in Jamie Oleksiak and Kari Lehtonen. While both are good trade options for the club, packaging them with Seguin for a rental goaltender could wreak havoc on the team.
Oleksiak has made great strides in the last year in all aspects of his game and his physical size and ability to stand his ground makes him an excellent option for the Stars. He also, however, would be an understandable piece of the right trade if it came along. This one would not be it, though.
Lehtonen’s future in Dallas is in the air. He has proven time and time again that he simply cannot perform well under pressure. That is one the worst qualities to have as a professional athlete, but the far and away worst to posses as a starting goaltender in the NHL. With that said, his inclusion in the deal actually would make sense.
Next: Dallas Stars Have Empty Roles to Fill
Final Thoughts
Ultimately having Price on the Stars would be a great thing, but acquiring him this offseason would be difficult to say the least. He is considered an elite goaltender in the league with an incredible track record to support it, at least from a personal performance standpoint.
But moving a player like Seguin in addition to Oleksiak and Lehtonen would be way too much to give up in return for a rental goaltender with the option to leave after one year.
Considering it is only just now the end of April, it is exciting to see trade rumors beginning to go around. One of these days they will not be rumors anymore, but until then let the mill spin.