With free agency opening in just a few days, the Dallas Stars have some decisions to make regarding the holes in their lineup. But all of their offensive needs could be answered by in-house candidates.
Does anyone have any grey hairs yet, or is it just me?
The past week has been nothing short of frantic and overwhelming across the NHL. It had been 17 years since the league last held an expansion draft, but that streak was shattered last weekend when each of the 30 NHL teams turned in their protected lists for the impending draft that was scheduled to happen Wednesday night.
And that’s when it all started. After three days of nervously speculating and awaiting, the Vegas Golden Knights officially hoisted themselves into the league by adding 30 new players to their team.
48 hours after this madness occurred, the NHL Entry Draft kicked off in Chicago. And after seven rounds, 217 players picked, and a few trades, here we are.
Dallas Stars
But the pandemonium does not end here; far from it, in fact. Throughout a typical NHL offseason, there is one thing that fans look forward to more than anything else: free agency. Players leave, players join, and some trades happen for each team, and it’s always a joy to follow and guess on.
And this year promises to be no different, especially for the Dallas Stars. The free agency period opens on July 1 as it always does, and the Stars will likely be heavy players in negotiations with different UFAs.
It’s not necessarily because their team needs an upgrade, but instead that there are holes that must be filled. The Stars don’t need to reel in any “big-money” signing, simply because they have already done it. By trading for Ben Bishop and signing him to a six-year deal as well as signing Ken Hitchcock to be their next head coach, the Stars checked off their biggest offseason needs before the free agency frenzy began, being a starting goalie and new bench boss.
But the rest of their offseason will consist of filling some holes in their lineup. The Dallas Stars are a good team on paper at the moment, and could do some damage with the right coaching. Could they go all the way? Probably not. That’s because of the voids in their roster.
The Stars need to find themselves a top-four defender and two right wingers in the offseason hunt. The defender can come via trade or by signing a new contract, but preferably needs to be a veteran and leaning more in the “defensive defenseman” category.
What about the right wings? The problem with the right wing hunt is that the Stars need two “top of the line” right wings. They currently have two RWs listed on their roster (Brett Ritchie and Adam Cracknell), but neither are ready to play first or second line minutes. Both players are considered depth players and can provide scoring and support in the bottom six.
That’s why names like T.J. Oshie, Patrick Eaves, and Justin Williams have been connected to the Stars. But none of this talk carried any weight until Sunday at midnight when the window opened up, allowing other teams to talk with pending UFAs. By then, both Oshie and Eaves had already signed long-term deals with their current teams.
Predlines
These signings leave the Stars in a bit of a bind when searching for quality talent that can play on the top two lines. Those two were capable of playing in the top six, giving Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn a competent pairing, and putting up strong numbers for the team on offense. Now where does Dallas look?
Honestly, they shouldn’t have to look any further than their own pending UFA list, which holds the names of RWs Patrick Sharp and Ales Hemsky. If both are healthy, Dallas should sign both to new deals, go out and find a defenseman, and call it an offseason.
That’s because both are reliable right-wingers when healthy. In his two seasons with the Dallas Stars, Sharp has 28 goals and 73 points in 124 games. He provides quality leadership in the top six and gives the team an edge with experience. Hemsky, on the other hand, has 28 goals and 78 points in 166 games with Dallas spanning across three seasons. He brings speed to the top two lines along with a reliable scoring touch.
But why have neither of these players played full seasons? Well, injuries have played a big part in that. Hemsky has had two separate hip surgeries since coming to Dallas (at the end of 2014-15 and during the 2016-17 season) and Sharp just recently had one near the tail end of 2016-17.
The biggest thing about these two RWs is that they are reliable. The Dallas Stars won’t have to spend a ridiculous amount of money on a free agent that may not end up panning out for them. They know that they are getting quality production and a strong presence in their top six from both and that both players give them a shot at winning. After all, these were two big pieces in the Stars’ number one offense across the league in 2015-16.
The Stars could get both back at heavily reduced rates (Hemsky cap hit: $4 million, Sharp cap hit: $5.9 million), thus freeing up more cap space for the team for not only hunting a defender, but also to use down the road with necessary extensions (we’re looking at you, Tyler Seguin).
Sharp and Hemsky are two leaders in the dressing room, provide Dallas with offensive support when at 100 percent, and can be strong mentors for some of the younger players that the Stars are bringing into the system. It would also fill the final voids on offense with familiar faces.
Next: Stars Draft Analysis: Success At All Ends
If they aren’t healthy or don’t come back at top quality from their respective surgeries, then maybe you re-think it. But if they’re ready to play hockey in October, then both could be valuable additions that could aid the Stars in more reasons than one.
Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill stated at the draft this weekend that he will be talking to both camps this week and seeing if there is a chance to make a deal with either. Chances are that Nill will be able to get the kind of deal he wants with two veterans.
After all, it’s much easier to trust something when you know what you’re getting. With these two, the Stars know exactly what they’re getting. Do they like it?