The 2019 NHL Trade Deadline is a little over one month away, but the Dallas Stars are already off and running in the trade market. But even with one new acquisition, this could simply be the tip of the iceberg for GM Jim Nill.
On Feb. 26, 2018, Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill made a bold move.
As the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline closed in on its end and many teams made last-minute moves, the Stars remained quiet. Even as Central division rivals like the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators added significant pieces to prepare for deep playoff runs, Dallas stood pat.
After avoiding any and all trades and acquisitions, Nill pointed out that he liked where his team was at and believed that they could make a run. Even though the teams around them got substantially better, the Stars sat in third place in the Central and looked to be in good enough shape to at least qualify for the postseason.
That didn’t end up happening. After posting a 7-9-4 record that included an 0-6-2 skid from the deadline to the end of the regular season, the Dallas Stars were bumped from the playoff picture. It marked the first time that the Stars missed the postseason in back-to-back years since 2013 and once again left the team searching for answers. Ken Hitchcock retired from coaching, Nill began the search for a new bench boss, and the entire team returned to the drawing board.
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As difficult as it was to witness, it’s even more disappointing to think about how easily the team could have avoided the problem. Maybe if they made a harder push for forward Paul Stastny or forward Evander Kane (both of which were moved at the deadline), they could have improved their depth scoring on the second line. That could have helped their offense score more than 2.55 goals per game down the stretch and not overtax the top line of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Alexander Radulov.
It just goes to show how important the Trade Deadline can be for teams. Not only are teams trying to upgrade their own rosters to prepare for a race to the playoffs, but they are also trying to assure that their upgrades are more significant than that of their opponents and rivals. That can be a difficult line to walk at times, but is one that general managers have to endure if they want their team in the best position to surge past game 82.
Last season, Nill took a major risk by staying quiet at the deadline. He and the Stars ended up paying for it as they went 2-3-0 against the Central to close out the year and trudged through 16 consecutive days in March without a win.
Throughout the extra-long 2018 offseason, Dallas hired a new head coach in Jim Montgomery and signed a few new starters for depth purposes once free agency opened.
But through 47 games this season, those moves haven’t paid off. The Dallas Stars still have a depth scoring problem and are in need of an extra boost. What is even more telling is the fact that the Stars are in a similar position as they were last year: third in the Central division but in need of help in a few areas for the final push.
That’s where the deadline comes in handy. With the Stars in danger of missing the playoffs for a third straight season, the pressure is on for Dallas to take the next step.
Nill knows the importance of deadline acquisitions (perhaps now more than ever) and the boost that they can provide. As a result of that, he’s already getting involved in acquisitions.
On Monday morning, the Dallas Stars traded Devin Shore to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Andrew Cogliano. It was a player-for-player deal that gave the Ducks a chance to get younger and the Stars a seasoned veteran leader.
It’s uncertain as to who will end up winning the trade, but it was one that both teams needed to make. And while Cogliano’s leadership and speed should be assets to the Stars, he isn’t the key to the Stars making a deep playoff run. Dallas still needs more help that can be found at the deadline.
That’s where Nill comes into play. After the controversy that took place in December, the pressure is on the Stars to succeed and be timely about it. That begins with making the playoffs, which begins with assembling a playoff-caliber roster.
The Stars have most, but not all, of those playoff-caliber necessities in their lineup. They could still use a scorer or playmaker for their second line and could also use a defender for their second pairing. Those assets can be found in the deadline, and you can be assured that Nill is looking for them.
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The move for Cogliano could very well just be the beginning for Nill and the Stars. Dallas picked up an asset in Cogliano, but they still need more. And with Nill making a move this early on in the deadline process, he’s acknowledging that he knows his team needs additions. He also knows that this season is arguably the most important one of his tenure as general manager.
The Stars have needs and Nill is surveying the market. The acquisition of Cogliano could be just the beginning for a busy 2019 trade season for the Dallas Stars.
“Something could happen, we look at these situations every day,” Nill told Sean Shapiro of The Athletic following the trade for Cogliano.
As the deadline approaches, the list of available options will come into better focus. The Dallas Stars know what they need to round out their lineup, and it’s up to Nill to find those pieces. Monday’s trade was a step in the right direction and proved that Nill is prepared to make a deal. But, there is more to be done.
One thing is for sure, though: Nill cannot afford to make the same mistake twice.