3 reasons why trading for Sean Walker would make sense for the Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars could use a lot of help defensively at the trade deadline, and someone like Sean Walker makes a lot of sense for one of the Western Conference’s best.
The Dallas Stars could use a lot of help defensively at the trade deadline, and someone like Sean Walker makes a lot of sense for one of the Western Conference’s best.
With 70 points on the season as of Tuesday afternoon, the Dallas Stars sit two points above their division rival, the Colorado Avalanche, and six behind the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Canucks. But with 192 goals in 52 contests, Dallas is third in the NHL in goals scored, so it’s clear they are clicking when they have the puck.
Unfortunately for the Stars, their defensive game has been so-so all year, and they must utilize the trade deadline to pick up a blueliner or a defensive forward in hopes of stopping opponents from scoring on them so often.
Sure, they are 15th and, therefore, in the top half of the league in goals allowed with 159. But if they want to take the next step and embark on a deep playoff run, they must address a blue line that only has a pair of viable players in Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley. So, a potential asset like Sean Walker would be a huge addition near the trade deadline should the Philadelphia Flyers end up as sellers.
Sean Walker would solidify a legitimate top-four in Dallas
While Sean Walker has floated between the second and third-pairings in Philadelphia, and he could stand to average at least another minute or two on the ice per game, he’s shown enough in Philadelphia to consistently play in the top-four if called upon. Walker’s 19:27 of average total ice time is a career-high, and he has been comfortable all season with that increased ice time.
Through 54 games, Walker is also on pace to post career-highs in points, plus-minus, shooting percentage, blocks, hits, and takeaways, so you can only wonder why he hasn’t seen the ice as often in previous stops. Put him onto a star-studded team like Dallas, and his productivity on both sides of the ice will likely increase with an even better team around him.
The Stars can make this trade work without moving around too many assets
While the Stars have a recent Conference Championship to their name, they failed to finish the job in 2020 and bring Dallas its second Stanley Cup. With this being potentially the best Dallas Stars team of the 2020s, they need to make a splash near or at the deadline. And with a team like the Flyers who may still be willing to sell when March 8th arrives, teams like Dallas need to be interested in such assets.
Now, if the Flyers keep winning or if general manager Daniel Briere decides to buy at the deadline and strengthen one of the 2023-24 season’s surprise teams, Walker may be off the table. But if Briere is looking to rebuild with his own young talent, then Walker will end up elsewhere.
And the Stars have enough assets to make a serious trade for the blueliner, as they possess a trio of first-round picks, plus a second in 2024, and a second in 2026. There are also a few prospects they can entice the Flyers with should Philadelphia be interested in rebuilding.
And although Dallas doesn’t have a ton of cap space to work with, Philadelphia could always retain a portion of Walker’s contract. Overall, it’s the kind of trade that the Stars can make without putting a ton of strain on moving too many players around to make room.
Walker’s play would help the Stars accumulate even more points
Sean Walker’s defensive play has helped fuel the Flyers turnaround, with an estimated 4.3 in point shares and 3.2 on the defensive side. This hasn’t just helped the Flyers sit at just 12th in the league so far with 155 goals allowed, but that play has also allowed for more chances in the offensive zone, and by extension, more unprecedented wins for Philadelphia.
Those overall points shares would rank ninth on the Stars, meaning that at the end of the day, Walker’s overall play would likely turn them into a better team overall. Walker’s presence in the offensive zone, even if it doesn’t translate to a lot of scoring, is also impactful, especially at 5-on-5. His overall zone starts this season at 5-on-5 sits at 54.0, and that’s accompanied with a Corsi For and Fenwick For percentage of 52.4 and 54.5, respectively.
With the above info, we’re seeing just how much of an impact Walker would have in the offensive zone, even if the bulk of his contributions to helping a team win comes with his defensive play. So, although his points total doesn’t reflect what he can do offensively, advanced stats tell a deeper story.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of February 12th)