Dallas Stars: One Potential Free Agent Target at Each Position

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The Dallas Stars are only three days away from free agency and they’re looking to improve the roster before next season.

During the annual frenzy on July 1, the Dallas Stars will look to add a few pieces from their wishlist.

The Stars are going to need a new backup goaltender and some depth scoring as well as replace some departing free agents. Most GMs, Nill included, will also give consideration to almost anyone who’s willing to come for the right price and contract length. Trades are always a viable option for filling out the roster, especially if Jim Nill hopes to offload Jason Spezza‘s contract, but free agent signings will dictate trades for the rest of the summer.

Currently, Nill has almost $20 million in cap space to work with, which includes Stephen Johns’ new contract extension. In addition to new free agent signings, he will need to take into consideration the new contracts for the seven restricted free agents that were given qualifying offers. Those new contracts will factor into the amount that he can spend on the free agent market.

If Nill can trade Spezza’s $7.5 million AAV contract, that will cover a significant portion of the rest of the RFA class assuming the Stars don’t take on a high value contract in return. If John Tavares chooses to come to Dallas, that will likely eat up half of the current cap space.

Without knowing what will happen with Tavares and Spezza, it’s difficult to predict what may happen on Sunday, but let’s take a look at one potential target for each position.

James van Riemsdyk

Last Year’s Cap Hit: $4,250,000
Last Year’s Stats: 36 G, 18 A, 54 P, 80 GP

James van Riemsdyk is coming off of a 6-year contract and he’s spent the last six seasons in Toronto. Dallas Stars fans probably remember him most recently as the guy that had a hat trick when we played the Maple Leafs this March. He’s coming off one of the better years in his career and the Leafs probably wouldn’t let him walk right now if it weren’t for the sheer amount of young talent waiting in the wings for bigger contracts.

Why the Stars Should Sign Him: With guys like Antoine Roussel likely heading out and a lack of both pure wingers and scoring depth, van Riemsdyk could be the exact thing this team needs to get scoring back on track next season. He hasn’t made it anywhere in the playoffs since the Flyers lost the cup in 2010 and he may be willing to take a short-term deal if he thinks the team is ready for a deep run.

Why the Stars Shouldn’t Sign Him: Cap space. He’s been on a reasonable contract for the last six years and he’s probably looking for more than the Dallas Stars can realistically afford if they’re hoping for some other big signings. This is especially true if he’s looking for length, considering Tyler Seguin needs a new contract. It may be more money than Nill wants to tie up on a player like van Riemsdyk. He’s also 29, so a long contract that may look good now has the potential to come back to bite the Stars in a few years.

Other options include: David Perron, Thomas Vanek.

Paul Stastny

Surprise. You all thought I was going to say John Tavares, didn’t you? That possibility has been covered extensively, so instead, let’s take a look at another option.

Last Year’s Cap Hit: $7,000,000
Last Year’s Stats: 16 G, 37 A, 53 P, 81 GP

Paul Stastny was a trade deadline rental for the Jets last season and he had a great postseason with 6 goals and 9 assists over Winnipeg’s three-round run. He’s not at the same level he was when his career began. He had over 70 points in three of his first four seasons, earning him $6.6 million after his entry-level contract was up. However, he’s still played reliably over the past few years and he doesn’t need to come in and be the top center.

Why the Stars Should Sign Him: The Dallas Stars were supposed to have a reliable second-line center in Jason Spezza, but he hasn’t been looking like himself. They’re also supposed to have a reliable second-line center in Martin Hanzal, but he spent half the season injured and his availability to start next season is in question. With both of them missing, the Stars have a major problem at center despite most of the roster being made up of guys who are natural centers, which is a whole different article. It’s a problem that needs addressing and Stastny could be the guy to fix it.

Why the Stars Shouldn’t Sign Him: If John Tavares signs with Dallas, obviously his services would not be needed. Age is another problem, as Stastny is already 32 and not looking like the player he started as. After watching both Spezza and Patrick Sharp struggle in the past few years, Stars fans may be understandably leery of an older player who is showing signs of decline. They also shouldn’t sign him if they can’t move one of Spezza and Hanzal, because that’s too much potential money to tie up filling one hole on the roster with guys who may or may not be able to solve the problem.

Other options include: Joe Thornton on a one-year contract, John Tavares.

James Neal

Last Year’s Cap Hit: $5,000,000
Last Year’s Stats: 25 G, 19 A, 44 P, 70 GP

Dallas Stars fans are already familiar with James Neal, who was drafted by the Stars and played for them for three seasons. He’s a consistent 20-30 goal scorer, which is something the Stars desperately need more of right now. He’s been on an expensive contract for the level he’s produced at, but he’s also played in 56 playoff games in the last three seasons, including two consecutive losses in the Stanley Cup Final. Hey, maybe the third time’s the charm for him and next season he’ll finally lift the Cup.

Why the Stars Should Sign Him: So we can all bring our old James Neal jerseys out of the closet again. For real (deal), this team needs scoring depth. He spent a good amount of time in Pittsburgh playing on the wing of Evgeni Malkin to great success, going almost a point a game during his time there. Outside of landing Tavares, the Stars won’t have a second-line center at Malkin’s level, but if Neal could produce even close to that, the deal could be worth it.

Why the Stars Shouldn’t Sign Him: The Dallas Stars tried to revisit the past with Ken Hitchcock last year and it didn’t work out. This organization is trying to look to the future and bringing Neal back doesn’t fit with that. Also, if he’s not on a variation of the Marian Hossa 2008-2010 path to the Stanley Cup, he might be cursed.

Other options include: David Perron and Thomas Vanek again, or Riley Nash.

Greg Pateryn

Last Year’s Cap Hit: $800,000
Last Year’s Stats: 1 G, 12 A, 13 P, 72 GP

It’s probably cheating to choose Greg Pateryn, but it’s still happening. He’s a man who needs no introduction to fans of the Dallas Stars. He’s been here on an incredibly cheap contract just above league minimum and he’s more than shown he’s worth the extension if he’s willing to stay on the lower end of the pay scale. He deserves a raise and the Stars can afford to give him one as long as it stays realistic. He averaged almost 20 minutes of ice time last season and wasn’t a defensive liability, which is more than can be said of some of the other blue line options, both in the organization and on the free agent market.

Why the Stars Should Sign Him: He’s not an offensive defenseman by any means, but the Stars don’t need that. They’ve got guys like John Klingberg for that. What they need is a guy who can come in, eat up some ice time, play well on the penalty kill, and not royally mess up. For that, Pateryn’s their guy. Last year was the first time in his career that he played for most of the NHL season and it was something he earned through his solid play.

Why the Stars Shouldn’t Sign Him: The Stars have an overcrowded blue line that’s also struggled because of their inexperience. The probable departure of Dan Hamhuis frees up a little more space, but that could be taken by Miro Heiskanen next season. Pateryn isn’t a star defenseman and he’d be taking away ice time from young players coming up in the system.

Other options include: Mike Green or Brooks Orpik if Nill really wants experienced veterans, but he should just go with Pateryn and spend the money on the forward core and a backup goaltender.

Carter Hutton

Last Year’s Cap Hit: $1,125,000
Last Year’s Stats: 17-7-3, 2.09 GAA, .931 SV%

Carter Hutton has been bouncing around the Central Division, spending time with the Blackhawks, Predators, and Blues. It seems only right that he continue the trend and bounce his .931 save percentage down here to Dallas to replace the departing Kari Lehtonen. Hutton has spent his career as a backup, but did play half the season in 2013-14 after Pekka Rinne was sidelined with injuries.

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Why the Stars Should Sign Him: They need a backup goaltender and Hutton is the best option available. Among available free agent goaltenders with more than five games last season, Hutton has the highest save percentage by far, .931 to Anton Khudobin‘s .913. His 2.09 goals against average also leads the pack, with Lehtonen and Khudobin tied in second place at 2.58. If the Dallas Stars want to fix the mess that has been the backup position, Hutton’s clearly the best player to sign.

Why the Stars Shouldn’t Sign Him: It’s probably going to be less of a “shouldn’t sign him” and more of a “couldn’t sign him.” Realistically, Hutton is going to a team that will make him their starter and they’ll probably give him a better contract than the Stars are ready to spend on a backup. The slim chance that the Stars have hinges on the fact that if he goes to somewhere like Buffalo, he probably won’t be in the playoffs any time soon and that may matter to him more than money or being the starter.

Other options include: Anthon Khudobin, Jonathan Bernier.

Next: 3 Reasons Why Dallas Doesn't Need A Big Summer

Free agency opens July 1 and fans should be able to reassess the options with a clear picture by Monday morning. Until then, who do you think should be high on Jim Nill’s list?

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