Dallas Stars: Assessing Their Moves On Day One Of Free Agency
It wasn’t the most expected first day of free agency for the Dallas Stars. But regardless of expectations, the team made some sizable moves. Let’s look at each of their major ones.
It’s Monday, July 2, 2018, and the Dallas Stars have yet to make a sizable move. That may sound a little unusual and worrisome, but it’s the truth.
The Stars spent the first day of free agency in a different way than most expected to. Stars media, analysts, and fans entered the period with a concrete plan of what Dallas needed to do, and it looked something like this.
- Get a solid backup goaltender that can take the starting role when necessary
- Add forward depth to serve on the second line and provide a scoring punch
That was basically it. Those needs were the Stars’ biggest hindrances in the 2017-18 season, so it only made sense to fix them with July 1.
And there was plenty of chatter surrounding the team pre-free agency as well. The John Tavares sweepstakes was ongoing and Dallas was one of the six teams in play to land him. On top of that, they had been linked to a few different players on the morning of July 1, though nothing was confirmed at the time. Everything seemed to be going according to plan for the Stars.
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But then, all of a sudden, it didn’t. Once free agency opened, Dallas went in a significantly different direction, leaving their fans confused and a bit lost.
Once Tavares announced that he was heading to Toronto to play with the Leafs, GM Jim Nill was off and running. He got the goaltender the Stars needed, signing Anton Khudobin to a two-year deal.
But after that, everything else kind of filed in unexpectedly. The Stars also signed defenseman Roman Polak and forward Blake Comeau, along with bringing back forward Valeri Nichushkin. In addition, they also signed players for organizational depth, including Michael Mersch, Erik Condra, Joel Hanley, Colton Point, and Joel L’Esperance.
Chances are you probably needed a second to digest all of these moves. They were definitely not expected, and some of them could be argued as completely unnecessary.
Well, that’s why we’re here to help. After talking with Nill and some of the newest Stars yesterday, we’ve broken down the reasoning and positives to each of the major signings made by Dallas. By major signings, I’m talking about the first four names (Khudobin, Polak, Comeau, Nichushkin). In other words, the ones that will start the year in Dallas and have an impact on the Dallas Stars next season.
Here is a look at each of the four. In addition, we’ve also added a brief breakdown of the depth players that signed and some quote from Nill’s interview at the end of the slideshow.
Valeri Nichushkin
Contract details: Two years, $2.95 million
Though there were rumored signings going on throughout Sunday morning, the first official contract that the Stars got done was for Valeri Nichushkin. His return to the NHL had been rumored for a little over a month and the contract had been known for the past few weeks, but it was made official on July 1.
Nichushkin returns to the Dallas Stars and the NHL after spending the previous two seasons playing in the KHL. Those two seasons followed up the first three seasons of his professional career in the NHL.
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Mile High Sticking
And in those first three seasons, Nichushkin was a bit of a wild card, at least for a tenth overall pick. His rookie season was impressive as he tallied 14 goals and 34 points. Sophomore year might as well have been a scratch year for Nichushkin after only playing in eight games due to midseason hip surgery. Finally, 2015-16 turned out to be an average year for no. 43 as he turned to more of a depth role, putting up nine goals and 29 points.
Following a contract dispute, he decided to return to Russia on a two-year deal. But after two years in the KHL, the 23-year-old is back and ready for another go with the Dallas Stars.
“We are excited to welcome Val back to the Dallas Stars,” Nill said in the press release. “Over his past two seasons in the KHL and with the national team, he has continued his growth and development as a hockey player. Val was one of his team’s most outstanding players last season. He is a fantastic addition to our depth at forward and we look forward to his return to our club.”
Nichushkin returns as one of the Stars’ younger forwards and will hopefully bring a more advanced and well-rounded skill set to the lineup.
“Well, I think it’s going to be the same as when he was here,” Nill said about Nichushkin’s role in a press conference following the team’s moves on day one. “Val’s a top-10 pick in the NHL, played in the NHL when he was 18, and was a very effective player. He missed one full year because of hip surgery and because of that, he probably had a little bit of a frustrating, slow start to the next year. And then, unfortunately, because of contract situation or wanting to go play back home, he did that.
“But he’s a player. He’s been playing on the Russian national team, which is one of the top teams in the world. We’re getting a better player back and he’s excited to be coming back. He’s 6’4, he can skate, and he’s a bull on the puck. So, we’re looking forward to his addition.”
I think Nichushkin could end up being the biggest addition of the 2018 offseason. He already had a good mix of skills in his first few seasons with Dallas. One of his biggest weaknesses was carrying and protecting the puck when entering the offensive zone. But if he has fixed that and made some other tweaks to his game, he could be a solid add.
It was nice for Dallas to get him back and lock in some more scoring depth at forward.
Blake Comeau
Contract details: Three years, $2.4 million
Another addition to the forward group was the signing of Blake Comeau. At the age of 32, Comeau has spent his NHL career serving as a depth forward for five different clubs. He most recently spent two years in Colorado with the Avalanche.
“He’s a great veteran presence,” Nill said in the press conference. “He’s had a strong career and has done a good job in Colorado the past couple years and played well against us. He’s a very versatile player. You can play him first line, play him on third line, left side or right side. I like the veteran presence in the dressing room.”
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Eyes On Isles
In the 2017-18 season, he skated in 79 games for the Avs, tallying 13 goals and 34 points along with a +5 rating.
“Blake will be a great addition to our forward group with his skill set and ability to play anywhere in the lineup”, said Nill in the press release. “His elite speed makes him a disruptive defensive presence and he fits well with what head coach Jim Montgomery is trying to accomplish.”
Comeau thrives as a depth scorer, reads plays well, and uses his speed to his advantage. Some saw it as another unnecessary signing, but he could definitely give the Stars a unique advantage.
“I kind of see a similar role that I had in Colorado,” said Comeau on a conference call. “Just a physical, two-way player that can play up and down the lineup. I play both wings and I don’t have a preference. I hope I can add to the penalty kill there. We had a really good penalty kill in Colorado and I was a big part of that. Just kind of being a utility player that can play both wings up and down the lineup, kill some penalties, and kind of do whatever I’m asked.”
The three years may be a bit of a risk for Dallas considering he’s a 32-year-old depth player. Comeau wanted the extra security and assurance considering he has a young family and didn’t want to move again, and the Stars were happy to oblige.
“Yeah, especially now that I have kids,” said Comeau. “I have two young girls. Especially my five-year-old because she’s moved around enough in her life. You kind of realize the importance of having some stability and a little bit of being in one spot that’s familiar to them, so that was important to me. The three years was something that I was looking for and I was very happy that it was Dallas.”
Comeau could end up skating alongside Radek Faksa and Tyler Pitlick and provide another speedy asset to that line along with an active scoring threat. That is exactly what the Stars’ third line needs, so Comeau could end up being a perfect addition that Stars fans didn’t know or think the team needed. Kind of like Patrick Eaves.
Roman Polak
Contract details: One year, $1.3 million
This was the biggest question mark of July 1 for the Stars.
After an impressive 2017-18 season that saw the Dallas defense go from 29th in goals against average to tied for sixth in a span of one season, the Stars defense embraced for more change this summer. Dan Hamhuis and Greg Pateryn, who served on the second pairing for most of the year, were both UFAs. In addition, Miro Heiskanen seemed ready to make the leap from Finland straight to the NHL.
Before July 1, the Dallas Stars blue line was expected to consist of Esa Lindell, John Klingberg, Miro Heiskanen, Stephen Johns, Marc Methot, and Julius Honka, with Dillon Heatherington serving as a seventh defenseman.
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Puck Prose
And even after July 1, that starting lineup will probably look the same. But the defense as a whole gained a new presence with the signing of Roman Polak.
“You look at our defense,” said Nill. “We’ve got the Honkas, the Heiskanens, the Klingbergs. It’s nice that he’s a big, heavy body and he’s got great experience and just brings another veteran presence to our dressing room.”
When breaking down this signing, the question that comes to mind is, “Why?” With the young and seemingly successful defensive core they already possess, why sign a 32-year-old defender with an injury history for one season to clog up the lineup. It seems unnecessary.
Well, it’s likely that this signing is for depth purposes only. The Stars wanted another veteran on the blue line (considering Methot is now the only player above the age of 26) in case their gamble on youth goes awry like it did in 2016-17.
Polak is a defensive defenseman that can use his size to his advantage and shut down opposing offensive rushes. He plays well in front of his own net and knows how to clear out space. His presence as a seventh defenseman will keep the Dallas defenders (specifically those on the right side) in check, while also giving Polak a chance to use his veteran leadership to his advantage.
In addition, Polak knows Radek Faksa rather well after working out with him for the past few summers. Faksa spoke highly of the defender to Nill.
“We talked to Radek [Faksa] and they do work out together,” said Nill. “They’re good friends and Radek has raved about him. He’s talked about him for a couple of years to me and has raved about his character and that he’s a heavy body. I get back to we’ve got the Honkas and Heiskanens. We’ve got some real skaters, but you do have to have a good mix of players. You add him with the Johns’s and the Methots, it gives us a good mix with our top seven moving forward.”
It’s a short and cheap deal that gives the Dallas Stars some extra assurance in the back end. It may not be the most necessary deal, but could pay off if things take a turn for the worst with the team’s defensive performance.
Anton Khudobin
Contract details: Two years, $2.5 million
And here we are at the move that all Dallas Stars fans could agree on. The Stars needed a backup goaltender with the departure of Kari Lehtonen, and Khudobin fills that void.
“Well Khudobin, I think, really adds to our goaltending depth,” Nill said. “I talked about signing [Colton] Point and now you get Khudobin signed. He’s a veteran, been around the league a long time, done a great job in Boston the last couple of years. We think he’s going to be a great addition for our goaltending moving forward.”
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Da Windy City
Khudobin is a longtime NHL veteran, having played nine years in the league. He’s been a backup for most of that time, playing as the no. 2 for teams like Carolina and Anaheim.
For the past two seasons, he’s served as the backup to Tuukka Rask in Boston. This past season, however, was one of the most impressive in his career.
While Rask dealt with injuries and was in need of rest, Khudobin served as a primary option for the Bruins. He did well, turning in a record of 16-6-7 along with a .913 save percentage and 2.56 goals against average. These numbers may not look like a massive upgrade from Lehtonen’s, but the fact of the matter is that Khudobin’s ability to serve as a starter when needed shone through in 2017-18. That’s what initially turned Dallas towards him in free agency.
“We had this interview period,” Nill said about his prior contact with Khudobin. “We had our meetings back and he was one of the top goalies and we thought he was a good fit for us. We have some players that had prior experience with him. You always do your background checks. We talked about his work habits and how does he work with another goalie and that. He checked most of the boxes.”
And for Khudobin, he loved what he heard from the Stars and also likes their chances at winning. That helped make the decision pretty easy.
“They were really interested in me, first of all,” said Khudobin in a conference call. “As soon as I talked to my agent, he said, ‘Dallas really, really wants you.’ So, my decision was really easy when we talked. It literally happened a long time ago. Dallas is really great and a great organization.
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In addition, he has ties with Alexander Radulov considering they are both from the USSR. He said that Radulov played a big role in convincing him to sign with the Stars.
“I talked to Alex [Radulov], you know who I’ve talked about,” said Khudobin. “When he said, ‘Doby, come here. It’s going to be great,’ …that’s it. And plus, they have a really good chance to win, which is really important for me. I’m not looking for a lot of money or whatever. I’m looking to win.”
He sounded very enthusiastic about the opportunity in Dallas and his chance to serve as a veteran leader in the crease. It was a solid add for the Stars as they secured one of the top free agent goalies on the market and locked him down on a feasible two-year deal that will give their prospects time to develop.
This could also prove to be one of the best signings of the offseason. If Khudobin can bring the consistency he had in Boston to Dallas, he should have a strong shot at being a solid backup for the Stars for the next two seasons.
Other Depth Signings And Jim Nill Quotes
In addition to their major adds, the Dallas Stars also made a few signings to improve their depth around the organization.
The Stars signed LW Michael Mersch, RW Erik Condra, and D Joel Hanley to two-way deals. These three players will likely improve the AHL system and give the Texas Stars more depth and another chance at piecing together a run to the Calder Cup Finals.
In addition, they also signed center Joel L’Esperance to an entry-level deal after impressing with the Texas Stars on an amateur tryout contract towards the end of last season and into the postseason.
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Pucks and Pitchforks
And finally, Dallas signed goaltender Colton Point to an entry-level deal, officially turning the Colgate University goalie into a pro. Point will likely start next season in the AHL and officially begin his trek towards becoming an NHL goaltender.
Here is what Jim Nill had to say about the various happenings in day one of free agency:
How it works bringing in two veteran guys but still trying to embrace youth
Well, you still have to have a veteran presence. If you think you’re going to throw 20 young guys on the ice and win, it’s not going to happen. That’s kind of a naive thought. You have to have veteran presence. These guys are going to add that, and there’s an opportunity for the kids. In the end, how they play will dictate where they go, but I know they’re on the right pace.
If this offseason was a way to show his confidence in his current team
You’re always trying to get better everyday you come to work. I know we’re still a good team. I just mentioned we were one of the six teams in the running for John Tavares, so I think something’s going right here. You don’t get brought into those situations unless players and people around the league think there’s something here. We know we’ve got good pieces here and we know we’ve got to get better.
But in the end, we’re talking about adding some pretty good pieces. You start adding Miro Heiskanen, who’s maybe the best young prospect in the world right now, we’re adding some major pieces. Val Nichushkin was a top-10 pick and he’s 23.
These are some pretty good young players, so we’re adding some good assets here and we think that’s going to add to our team to get better. Then, you have a chance to add some other pieces to it and that’s part of the package of continuing to improve.
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If this is the 23-man roster he’s looking at going into camp
This is a good part of it. We’re still talking to teams and still have to get some guys signed. And once again, there’s still lots of things that I think could happen over the summer. But this is a pretty good core of our team.
His thoughts on depth scoring
I think a lot of it is that we added to it. You start adding the Nichushkins and these guys and what we had in the back end. And I get back to I keep hearing about this “depth scoring.” After 50 or 60 games last year, we were eighth in the league in scoring, and then it dropped off. So, it was there for 60 games. I think that’s an overhyped question and I don’t know why it keeps coming up. I think we can score with anybody and I think we added to that today and with the young players we’re adding.
On Colton Point turning pro
In the end, it had to be his decision. He’s in college and it all depends on where you’re at, where you’re moving, and what’s your thoughts. In the end, him and his family had to be comfortable with it and they thought this was probably the best time to come out. He’s had two years and he thinks it was time for him to come out.
If the “win now” motive from signed UFAs gives him hope
No. I’ve got full confidence in what we’re doing. I get back to we just finished an interview period with one of the best players in the world and this was one of the six teams. There’s got to be something here. There’s all this doom and gloom here, and it’s not that bad. Yes, we missed the playoffs two years in a row and those things are going to happen sometimes. But we’ve got a good core here and we’re going to continue to get better.
On how Polak affects Julius Honka as another right-handed defender in the system
He doesn’t impact it at all.
It was an unexpected day, but could potentially turn out to be a solid one for the Dallas Stars. There’s not much we can do now besides speculate, but that’s where the fun comes in anyways.
Next: Roussel, Pateryn Leave Stars Via Free Agency
But as Nill alluded to above, don’t turn off your Twitter just yet. July 1 isn’t the only day that moves can be made. There’s a lot of offseason left, so keep your eyes and ears peeled.