Earlier in the day, the Dallas Stars added a defenseman. Now they’ve added a forward. TSN’s Darren Dreger confirmed that the Stars have acquired veteran forward Mats Zuccarello from the New York Rangers for a 2019 conditional second-round pick and a 2020 conditional third-round pick. Zuccarello is expected to join the team for Sunday’s game against Chicago.
The second-round pick becomes a first-rounder if Dallas wins two rounds in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season, while the 2020 third-rounder can become a first-round pick if Dallas re-signs Zuccarello. The Rangers also retained 30 percent of his salary, according to CapFriendly.
“Mats is a legitimate top-six forward in this League who possesses a high level of speed, skill, compete and grit,” said Dallas general manager Jim Nill. “He will enhance our team in a number of ways.”
The Stars hope that Zuccarello will give them the offense they need to get their team into the playoffs this year. Dallas currently owns the first wild card spot in the playoffs as they are tied with Colorado with 65 points. However, the Minnesota Wild are just a point behind both team, while two more teams are within four points of Dallas. With the team struggling scoring goals beyond their first line, the team needed to bring in some offense at the trade deadline. Zuccarello, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, could provide that. The 31-year-old has 11 goals and 37 points so far this year and should be the perfect addition to the team’s struggling second line. Zaccarello has spent his entire career with the Rangers and has tallied 113 goals in 509 career NHL games.
Aside of getting the Rangers to retain 30 percent of Zuccarello’s salary, the Stars placed Martin Hanzal on long-term injured reserve, freeing up the necessary cap space for Dallas to acquire Zuccarello. Hanzal going to LTIR freed up $4.75MM in cap space.
While a pair of picks doesn’t seem like a big return, the Rangers have conditions on those picks. The Rangers could get a first-round pick in this year’s draft if the Stars win a divisional championship, which seems like a longshot, but New York can also get a first-round pick if Dallas can re-sign Zuccarello this summer.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie was the first to report the potential deal.
So if Dallas wins 2 rounds and resigns Zucc, NYR get 2 first rounders? Sounds like a great deal for NY since those are both in the realm of possibility.
Simply not enough besides for robbing Ottawa blind in the Zibanejad trade Gorton has been pretty bad.
Nice deal for the Rangers.
Gimme what your smokin
Please fire Nill
I think this is the second overpay of the day for Dallas.
Even though winning 2 rounds of playoffs is unlikely, and we probably won’t resign Zucc, we can’t trade either the 2019 or 2020 1st’s just in case the unthinkable happens. Eliminates making another move because you tied up four picks basically.
I would have rather traded a 2019 1st, 2020 3rd (conditional to 1st if we re-sign) , a 2021 2nd, Honka and Nichushkin for Stone. a 2020 3rd (Columbus’) and 2020 6th (middle of the 3 they own).
Honka and Nichushkin aren’t worth anything by themselves, but Stars are done with them so might as well give Senators a shot at rehabbing their confidence.
If Dzingel got two seconds and a roster player I would’ve expected the same for Zuccarello, but if either pick turns into a 1st rounder it automatically becomes a win for the Rangers because there’s no way anyone was going to put a guaranteed first on the table for him. Gorton is taking a risk but it could easily pay off, particularly because I think Dallas has the space to resign him.
What? This is a pretty dang good haul
What’s the risk? Zuc is a free agent at the end of the year.
Can’t wait to see how good Hayes return will
be after this
The risk is in opting for conditions to upgrade a 2nd and 3rd into 1sts instead of taking 2 guaranteed 2nds like Dzingel just got
How could you say this isn’t enough for Zucc? For a 31 year old, undersized winger this is a pretty good haul. If you value him in line with what his actual production is, its solid and add on the chance for it to turn into two first round picks it makes it even better.
I’d rather take the potential 1’s, but that’s just my preference.
I would too, I’m just saying you have to recognize the risk.
The 3rd round pick is a lock. Dallas won’t give a 32 year old winger a 4 year deal, and give up a 1st. They’ll trade his rights to a team that will for a 5th. Chances of Dallas advancing to the conference finals are slim, but not impossible. Maybe that 2nd becomes a 1st.
There is a better chance that Dallas will miss the playoffs than win 2 rounds. As of today Dallas is 1 point away from missing the playoffs. That translates into a second round pick that is around #45 in the draft, If the Rangers traded him to a top Cup contender like Winnipeg, that would mean a pick around #60. Now it’s up to Rangers scouts to make a good draft pick. And that is certainly no guarantee.