After getting shut out 3-0 by the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon, the Dallas Stars were back in the middle of trade news. Their newest deal? Two conditional picks to the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Mats Zuccarello.
The Dallas Stars were shut out 3-0 by the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon for the second time in eight days. It was the sixth time in the 2018-19 regular season that the Stars were shut out in a game and once again forced their offensive shortcomings into the spotlight.
But, shortly after the game wrapped up, GM Jim Nill finally drew the line on his team’s shortcomings in the offensive zone. He did so by finalizing a deal to send two conditional picks to the New York Rangers in exchange for veteran forward Mats Zuccarello.
Obviously, this trade is a substantial move and potentially a big step in the right direction for the Stars. On the one hand, Zuccarello was one of the top trade targets on the deadline market and had reportedly generated interest from multiple teams.
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With the Rangers in a rebuilding phase and looking towards the future, Zuccarello’s veteran status has labeled him as a trade target since the 2018 deadline. He’s spent all nine years of his NHL career with the Rangers organization after signing as a free agent in the 2010 offseason.
Over the past six seasons in particular, the winger has been a centerpiece in the Rangers’ offensive attack. Since the 2013-14 season, he has yet to post below 15 goals or 49 points in a given year. From 2013-14 to 2017-18, he averaged 18 goals and 56 points each season and posted a +35 rating in 396 games.
At 5-8, 184 lb., Zuccarello’s success comes solely from speed and creativity, two things that the Dallas Stars have lacked desperately for much of the 2018-19 season. He’s a forward that thrives with the puck on his stick, can create offense both in the zone and in transition, and uses creative passing and skating to churn the scoring attack.
In addition, his offensive talents can also carry over to the power play. His passing skills and ability to drive hard to the net make him a valuable playmaking piece for any offense needing a spark.
Gone Puck Wild
This season, the 31-year-old has 11 goals and 37 points in 46 games while skating an average of 20:01 (the highest ATOI of his career). He also boasts three power play goals and 14 power play points. Zuccarello is also currently riding a hot streak, with seven goals and 23 points along with a +9 rating in the past 16 games.
By taking Zuccarello out of a restructuring Rangers system and placing him in a Dallas Stars system that is somewhat well-established but lacking in offensive production and consistency, the Stars are getting just what they need. He’s a playmaker that can skate in the top six and make quick impact on a team hurting for goals.
Now, the return price ended up being a little tricky. The initial announcement had the price being two conditional picks, and that still stands firm. The two picks dealt to New York were the Stars’ 2019 second-round pick and 2020 third-round pick, and here are the conditions for each one:
- 2019 second-round pick will become a first-round pick if the Stars win two playoff rounds this year
- 2020 third-round pick becomes a first-round pick if Zuccarello re-signs with the Stars in the offseason
Zuccarello is currently playing out the final year of his contract, which pays him an AAV of $4.5 million. Considering the Dallas Stars did not move a player in the deal, they instead moved forward Martin Hanzal to long-term injured reserve (LTIR) in an effort to open up cap space. The Rangers also retained 30 percent of his salary, meaning his cap hit with Dallas shrinks down to $3.15 million.
According to Sean Shapiro of The Athletic, the plan is for Zuccarello to meet the Stars in Chicago and play in Sunday afternoon’s game against the Blackhawks. He also reported that Nill is done with trade deadline moves.
Plan is for Zuccarello to play tomorrow against Chicago. Stars have put Martin Hanzal on LTIR to make deal possible. Nill says this is it for Stars as far as deadline moves.
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) February 24, 2019
Mats Zuccarello is a playmaker with a mind for offense. He’s a creative winger that has provided a struggling Rangers team with energy, grit, and leadership along with plenty of offensive pressure. That’s an impressive bundle for the Stars to acquire, especially without any players included in the return package.
It’s a trade that the Dallas Stars should have made a while ago. Zuccarello improves their top six, gives them another offensive weapon to hopefully round out their attack and make it more consistent, and brings another veteran voice to the locker room.
Mats Zuccarello is a Star, and that’s a good thing for a number of different reasons. The Stars became a markedly better team on Saturday.
And with that, the push to the playoffs is coming in hot.