The Expansion Draft gives Vegas the opportunity to claim one Dallas Stars player with no strings attached. Could that one player be a veteran defender like Dan Hamhuis?
It’s almost been one year since the Dallas Stars signed veteran defenseman Dan Hamhuis to a two-year deal.
After parting ways with Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers, and Kris Russell (all solid defenders in their prime) in the weeks leading up to the opening of free agency, GM Jim Nill made an emergency signing to help balance out the Dallas Stars’ defensive group that had all of a sudden become very young and inexperienced. That signing was Dan Hamhuis.
With one season down, it’s clear that Nill was both wrong and right. He was wrong for allowing the three veteran defenders to walk in the last offseason. With those three gone, a young and fragile Dallas Stars’ blue line tried to manage this season and ended up being the second worst defense in the league.
But Nill was in the right for signing Hamhuis to a two-year deal. Though he struggled early, Hamhuis quickly found his footing and helped the struggling defensive group along. By the end of the season, he was one of the Stars’ most consistent defenders.
Dallas Stars
His defensive game was a boost for Dallas and a breath of fresh air in a polluted atmosphere of rookie mistakes. Going into next year, Hamhuis will once again help provide depth in a Ken Hitchcock system that will be centered around defense. In other words, the Stars’ blue line will finally have a chance to shine.
But that’s only if he’s still a member of the Stars. That’s because Dan Hamhuis could be the perfect option for a team like the Vegas Golden Knights and could very well end up being selected in the expansion draft.
Vegas GM George McPhee has talked about how he is planning on building for the future with the expansion draft, trying to gain as many valuable assets that will also be long-term solutions. So why go for an aging defender like Hamhuis?
Well, so they can find stability on defense and have a good shot at winning some hockey games in their first season in the NHL.
Hamhuis would be a great fit for Vegas. Though he has passed his prime, his skills are still in the right spot and he can lead a defense effectively. If Vegas truly is going the young route, they could draft Hamhuis as a veteran leader that could help organize and improve the blue line.
He’s strong in the possession game, can help run a power play and penalty kill, and is smart and conservative in his play. He is also consistent in his performance and is impressively reliable. His experience could get Vegas a long way in their first year in the NHL.
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Hamhuis would be a low-risk, high reward piece for the Golden Knights. There is only one year left on his deal which is paying him $3.75 million per year. Vegas would not have to gamble on him and could simply use him as a short-term asset that could stabilize a young defensive group (almost exactly like he helped do with Dallas).
It’s not a bad option for Vegas and could certainly pay off in dividends. The key is that they would not have to sink anything into drafting Hamhuis and could immediately benefit from his presence.
But what if Dallas protects him? That’s definitely an option that has been talked about, but the majority opinion is that the Dallas Stars will protect a younger defenseman and prepare for their own future. If they lose Hamhuis, they will be losing their only defender over the age of 26, but would it be better to lose a player with one year left than lose a potentially valuable piece of their future? Do you take that chance?
Next: Which Defenders Will The Dallas Stars Protect?
There is still plenty to be determined and the Stars have a lot to think about. Hamhuis was an essential piece to the Dallas blue line last season and could have an even bigger role this year with a new scheme. But that’s only if Vegas doesn’t have their eye on him already. If he’s left unprotected, expect the Golden Knights to take a strong look at him.