Dallas Stars: Four Potential Targets At 2019 NHL Trade Deadline
Only two weeks separate the NHL from the 2019 Trade Deadline. This year, the Dallas Stars could be one of many teams involved in the frenzy as they gear up for the playoff race. But which players might they target? Here are four realistic options.
The Dallas Stars need to make a move at the NHL Trade Deadline if they want to be considered a legitimate challenger.
This was the message that reverberated around the Stars organization exactly 365 days ago. One year ago today, Dallas endured a humbling and somewhat shocking 6-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at the American Airlines Center on a chilly Sunday afternoon. It was one of only three times in 2017-18 where the Stars allowed more than five goals in a game and marked their worst loss of the season.
In addition, it also helped wipe clean the five-game win streak that the Stars had used to start the month of February, including wins against Minnesota, Chicago, and Pittsburgh.
The game was really over before it even truly got going, with a 21-28-6 Vancouver Canucks team tossing the Stars around and outdoing them in almost every aspect of the game. The Canucks dominated for the entirety of the contest and shut out the Stars for just the fourth time in 57 games. In the process, they also thrust the the Stars’ biggest weakness into the spotlight: the need for offensive firepower and depth scoring.
With the need being obvious, the looming 2018 NHL Trade Deadline seemed all the more appealing. It looked as though it was necessary that the Dallas Stars be a player in the deadline frenzy if they wanted their hot streak to translate into a potential postseason spot. They were good, but they needed more.
But GM Jim Nill avoided the deadline altogether. He didn’t find a deal worth making and instead stuck to his lineup. You probably remember how the rest of the story went down.
More from Blackout Dallas
- Dallas Stars Traverse City Tournament: Who had great performances?
- Grushnikov and Stankoven lead Dallas Stars to 6-3 win over Columbus
- Dallas Stars prospects look to wrap up tournament with a win
- Burn the tapes: Dallas Stars prospects lose 5-1 to Toronto Maple Leafs
- Dallas Stars look to continue success today against the Maple Leafs
That lineup turned in a 7-9-4 record following the deadline, tumbled into a rut in the most critical part of the regular season, and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs by three points. An inability to fill a void created one critical error in the plan, and everything unraveled as a result.
That meltdown is now buried in the past under a heap of frustration and discontent. But dang it, if the past doesn’t always find a way of catching up.
Monday morning marks two weeks before the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline settles in. The Stars recently won five games in a row to help kick off the month of February, but lost their most recent game to the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday afternoon. In the loss, one of their main struggles once again stood out: offensive consistency and depth scoring power.
And now, here they sit. With the deadline in 14 days, the Stars once again have a chance to be a player in the trade market and potentially save their season from a fate similar to last year’s. So far, Jim Nill has not allowed that opportunity to slip from his grasp.
On Jan. 14, he traded Devin Shore to Anaheim in exchange for Andrew Cogliano, with the hope that the veteran forward would make the Stars faster and more aggressive in the offensive end. So far, it’s worked.
Two weeks later, Nill reacquired Jamie Oleksiak from the Pittsburgh Penguins in hopes of injecting some size and physicality into the Dallas blue line. That trade also seems to be working in the team’s favor so far.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-15
Blue Line Station
But there is a need for more. Nill knows that. He knows that the Dallas Stars sit 29th in the NHL in scoring and are well behind where a playoff-caliber team should be in the goals department. He knows that the team needs second-line scoring help. And, he knows that this is the best time of year to find said help. Last year, he didn’t find any, and it cost the Stars their season (along with a handful of other factors). This year, he’s already been looking for ways to improve his club.
Just like last season, there is the potential to make a deal that will spark this team in the postseason race. The Central division race is getting tighter, and every available point already seems to matter a little more. That’s where a trade deadline acquisition can be of noteworthy assistance.
So, how does Nill attack this one? After all, there are plenty of names floating around the market. On top of that, there could be more buyers than usual, which could spark bidding wars and cause prices to fluctuate to undesirable levels.
It’s a tightrope that the Dallas management will have to navigate. And with Marc Methot (knee) on long-term injured reserve and players like Martin Hanzal (back), Stephen Johns (post-traumatic headaches), and Tyler Pitlick (wrist) potentially joining him, the Stars could have some serious cap flexibility to work with at one of the most important times of the year.
All of that leads us into this Monday morning discussion with the deadline two weeks out. The Dallas Stars need help if they want to solidify their title as a playoff contender. The teams around them in the standings will likely be getting aggressive as the deadline nears, so it’s up to Dallas to keep pace.
The Stars may need a few things, but scoring help reigns supreme on their to-do list. There are a handful of forwards currently sitting on the market, but not every one of them fits the Dallas Stars as you might think (or hope).
Artemi Panarin would provide a massive boost to the Dallas Stars offense, but the asking price would be astronomical. On top of that, Panarin and the Columbus Blue Jackets currently sit in third place in the Metropolitan division and look like a playoff challenger. So, why would Columbus trade him away when he’s much more valuable in their lineup as they make a postseason push?
Meanwhile, Mark Stone, Matt Duchene, and Ryan Dzingel are trying to figure out their futures in Ottawa. All three are free agents after this season and could very well be looking for a fresh start elsewhere, so it might not be smart for the Stars to break the bank on a deal for one of them.
While it’s fun to play armchair GM and dream about the inevitable “what if,” there’s a certain sense of reality that must come into play during trade season.
Simply put: the Dallas Stars have needs that the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline can help fill. But, there are certain candidates that just aren’t realistic.
However, there is a decent list of viable targets that Nill could take aim at.
Let’s take a look at four sensible options that Dallas could look into before the 2 p.m. CT deadline hits on Feb. 25. Whether the price will be right or not in the end is a different conversation. But, as of right now, here are four players that could make a sizable impact in the Stars lineup just in time for the playoff push.
Andre Burakovsky
Age: 24
Height/Weight: 6-3, 201 lb.
Contract situation: RFA in 2019 offseason ($3 million AAV)
A few weeks ago, the Washington Capitals had a professional scout attend a Stars home game. A day or two later, the Stars had a scout at a Capitals home game. And, through the power of social media and the curiosity of hockey fans, this turned into a full-blown case study.
It was eventually noted that the Stars had shown interest in Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky as a potential trade target ahead of deadline action. To add onto that, Burakovsky had arguably been made available by the Capitals.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-7
Kraken Chronicle
And if this move ends up panning out, it could be one that works in favor of the Stars.
Though he’s only 24 years old, Burakovsky owns an impressive resume. It includes five seasons of play at the NHL level with the Washington Capitals, four runs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and a championship. Not bad for a 2013 first-round pick.
Burakovsky possesses all of the tools of an NHL-ready forward, including an ability to play on either wing. He boasts impressive speed and puck handling skills and knows how to put the puck in the back of the net. He can contribute on the power play as well as provide a dose of size and speed to a team’s bottom nine.
During the 2015-16 season, he posted a career-high 17 goals and 38 points in 79 games. He followed that performance up with 12 goals and 35 points in 64 games in 2016-17.
Last season, he finished with 12 goals (including five game-winners) and 25 points in 56 contests and followed it up with two goals and six points in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
This season, however, he’s been put in a bit of a rut. While Burakovsky has played in 49 games, he only has seven goals and 15 points as well as a -4 rating. He’s averaging the lowest ice time of his career as he struggles to find scoring consistency on the Capitals’ third line.
As a result, the Caps could very well be looking to dish him at the deadline.
Like with most trades the Dallas Stars might commit, it would need to be a player-for-player deal. In return for Burakovsky, the Stars would have to give Washington a player that could potentially spark their struggling third line. That may not be an easy decision for Jim Nill to make, considering names like Radek Faksa and Mattias Janmark come to mind when you think of “third line spark.”
But, if Dallas believes that a change of scenery could help Burakovsky access his formerly dominant offensive style and use it to push their second line forward, then maybe it’s the trade that they need. And, if he comes to Dallas and impresses, the Stars have a 24-year-old forward to build around for the future.
Burakovsky isn’t fitting in the Washington system right now and the Dallas Stars have shown interest in taking him out of it. It’s definitely a plausible trade option for Dallas, but is one that could require some tough decisions. And is a tough decision worth the uncertainty of Burakovsky’s success? That’s a decision to be made by Nill.
Gustav Nyquist
Age: 29
Height/Weight: 5’11, 184 lb.
Contract situation: UFA in 2019 offseason ($4.75 million AAV)
As crazy as it still may sound after 25 years of consecutive playoff appearances, the Detroit Red Wings are currently in the midst of a full-scale rebuild. They have missed the postseason in each of the past two seasons and currently sit 30th in the NHL standings with a record of 21-28-7.
And while they have some young pieces to build around, their roster is still cluttered with veteran talent that could be much more serviceable elsewhere throughout the league. Standing near the front of that pack is forward Gustav Nyquist. And that’s where the Dallas Stars could swoop in.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-7
Predlines
On a team that has struggled (like Dallas) with putting up consistent scoring all season long, Nyquist has been a bright spot. The winger currently has 13 goals and 46 points in 55 games, pitting him just eight points short of a career-high. And while he is behind pace to outdo his career-high goals mark of 28, the offensive explosiveness is there.
Nyquist is an offensive weapon that relies on his skating ability to generate scoring. He’s an elusive winger that can create his own space using speed and puck control and eventually generate offensive chances by wearing down the defense. That sounds a lot like the style that Stars head coach Jim Montgomery preached when he first arrived in Dallas.
While he is a little undersized (he would be the second-shortest forward on the Stars roster), he makes up for it with an offensive punch. That’s just what Dallas could use in their quest for a more consistent, explosive, in-your-face style on offense.
If Jim Nill is going to make a move for a speedy winger that can help generate offense, Nyquist might very well be the guy. When Detroit selected him in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Draft, Nill was a member of the Red Wings’ front office. He was helping out in draft decisions and likely had a say in the decision to draft Nyquist.
As a result, he knows and likely trusts the veteran forward, who has proven to be a solid fourth-round selection in his last six years at the NHL level.
The Red Wings will be selling at the deadline and Nyquist could be one of the more popular names to hit the market. As a pending UFA at 29, he gives potential suitors the opportunity to either use him as a rental in the playoff push and cut ties after or keep him on and negotiate a long-term deal in the offseason. After all, he’s in the middle of his prime.
With that being said, however, the price might be high. Detroit is looking to rebuild, so the Stars would likely have to give away at least one NHL-ready player/prospect as well as a possible draft pick. That’s where a name like Julius Honka, Valeri Nichushkin, or Brett Ritchie could come into play. Young assets would be the key return in this deal. Still, it wouldn’t necessarily require a return that would hurt Dallas.
But even so, this could be a trade that greatly benefits the Dallas Stars. Nyquist has a winning reputation and has made the most out of a tough situation in Detroit. His offensive mindset is charged and could greatly boost the Stars in a push to the postseason and beyond.
Mats Zuccarello
Age: 31
Height/Weight: 5-8, 184 lb.
Contract situation: UFA in 2019 offseason ($4.5 million AAV)
One year ago, it looked as though Mats Zuccarello was all but on his way out of New York.
After being drafted by the Rangers and playing the first eight years of his NHL career with the organization, New York decided to take the rebuild route midway through the 2017-18 season. That included a fire sale at the 2018 Trade Deadline, and most of the Rangers’ veteran talent was sent packing.
Zuccarello was a potential name on the market, but never ended up being sent away.
But now, the 2019 Trade Deadline is approaching, and Zuccarello’s name is being tossed around the market more than ever. It seems inevitable that the winger will be traded before Feb. 25 as plenty of teams join in the sweepstakes. And maybe, just maybe, Jim Nill might take a flyer and see what’s going on in New York.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-9
Gone Puck Wild
Mats Zuccarello is one of the smallest players currently in the NHL. But that doesn’t stop him from providing an impressive offensive spark. He’s fast and electric when the puck is on his stick, always looking for ways to make a play or set up an opportunity. He tallied a career-high 26 goals and 61 points back in the 2015-16 season and has been one of the most consistent scoring forwards for the Rangers over the past few years.
This season, he’s got nine goals and 32 points through 41 games played and has put together a strong surge over the past six weeks while helping a struggling Rangers team along.
His skills seem to mesh well with how the Stars want to play, mixing speed and possession to create scoring opportunities. That makes him an intriguing candidate to post on the second line.
So, as the Rangers focus on the future, where does that leave the 31-year-old winger? On the trading block.
Of all the realistic trades that the Dallas Stars could make for a veteran scoring forward, this could very well end up being the priciest of the bunch. With plenty of teams knocking on the door for Zuccarello, the Rangers have an opportunity to set the price bar. Does that take things too high and out of proportion for the Stars to bother chasing? Or does Zuccarello’s skill set make him an ideal target all the more?
Keep an eye on where Mats Zuccarello lands. And, if he ends up landing in Dallas, keep an even closer eye on the return price.
Wayne Simmonds
Age: 30
Height/Weight: 6-2, 185 lb.
Contract situation: UFA in 2019 offseason ($3.975 million AAV)
This could be the most interesting pre-deadline story to watch of them all. Not just in terms of Wayne Simmonds, but in terms of the entire Philadelphia Flyers organization.
About one month ago, the Flyers sat in dead last in the NHL standings. They looked defeated, lost, and in need of a lot of help. The organization had already fired their general manager and head coach earlier in the season and did not look to be in any better shape because of it.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-7
Broad Street Buzz
But, thanks to the surging performance of a 20-year-old rookie goaltender and a full-team push, the Flyers are right back in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. As of Monday morning, they sit just six points out of the final wild card spot.
That could end up playing a role in how they approach the deadline. Thought to be heavy sellers a few weeks ago, the Flyers are now in a sort of deadline limbo. Do they continue with their plan of selling and look forward to next season? Or, do they put their faith in a recent hot streak and hope that the surge carries them into the playoffs?
This could still go either way. But, the Flyers will likely end up taking the “sell” path, considering the number of teams in the race and the unrealistic possibility of Philadelphia actually making a run if they were to sneak into the postseason. So, if they become sellers, Wayne Simmonds will be one of the names at the top of the trade market.
The 30-year-old forward, unlike the previously-mentioned candidates, centers his game around his size.
At 6-2, Simmonds is known for getting physical in all three zones. He’s a determined winger that uses intensity and an aggressive mindset to push the tempo in his favor. One of his favorite spots on the ice is in front of the opposing net, where he can anchor down and screen the goaltender, which often leads to a deflection or rebound chance. He can play both on the power play and penalty kill and is well-suited for second-line minutes.
This season, he only has 16 goals and 24 points. But, in recent years, it’s been common for Simmonds to score 25-30 goals (with 10-15 coming on the power play) and tally 50-60 points.
He’s a decent asset for any team to have on the power play as well as in front of the net in general, so the demand from suitors could be respectably high. That might lead Philadelphia to up the price in an attempt to maximize their return. But, considering his down year in terms of production both at even strength and on the power play, his value might be challenged.
More from Editorials
- Dallas Stars hockey is about to be the main attraction in Dallas this year
- Age Before Beauty: The impact of Benn’s new role on his Dallas legacy
- Dallas Stars hockey is the light at the end of the tunnel
- Dallas Stars coverage is lacking and it’s very concerning to be honest
- Sit back, relax and watch Jim Nill and the Dallas Stars draft scouts cook
Is Simmonds, a winger who, while big, is not the best natural creator of offense, a guy that the Dallas Stars should think about overpaying for in an attempt to bolster their offensive fluidity? The odds would say no, but stay tuned.
This 2019 NHL Trade Deadline is shaping up to be an entertaining journey. There seems to be a handful of certain buyers and sellers, along with a large clump of teams stuck in-between, trying to decide what they are.
Where do the Dallas Stars fall on that scale? Well, that’s ultimately up to GM Jim Nill. But, after the movement from the past month and Nill’s admission to his team’s needs, you can be assured that he is doing his homework right now.
Next. Stars' Upcoming Road Trip Offers Intriguing Challenge. dark
And over the next 14 days, we’ll get a chance to see just what he’s been plotting.