Trade Deadline Primer: Dallas Stars

With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now just a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Dallas Stars.

Things have gone mostly according to plan for the Stars this season.  They’re among the top-scoring teams in the NHL and have been in a battle for the top spot in the Central Division for the majority of the season.  However, they’ve been a bit shakier on the defensive side of things so if GM Jim Nill is able to add to his roster, the back end could very well be the area he tries to shore up in the coming weeks.  However, with very limited cap space, they may be limited in what they’re able to accomplish on the trade front.

Record

31-14-6, 1st in the Central

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$1.924MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2024: DAL 1st, DAL 2nd, DAL 5th, DAL 7th
2025: DAL 1st, DAL 3rd*, DAL 5th, NJ 5th DAL 6th, DAL 7th

*-If Nils Lundkvist gets 55 total points between 2022-23 and 2023-24, the Rangers would get this pick instead of Dallas’ 2025 fourth-rounder.  Lundkvist has 30 points in a Dallas uniform heading into tonight’s action so this condition is unlikely to be met but the pick will be encumbered for trade purposes.

Trade Chips

As a team that won’t be intent on moving impactful pieces off its roster, Dallas will undoubtedly be fielding inquiries about Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque.  They are the top two scorers in the AHL but have yet to see NHL action so far given the depth that the Stars have up front.  If it’s only a depth move that they’re able to make, these two won’t be in play but if Nill wants to make a significant upgrade, one of these two could help yield Dallas a strong roster player.

If Dallas does look to make a move to add a piece on the back end, Lundkvist could also be someone who generates some interest.  The 23-year-old has basically been limited to full-time third-pairing duty at even strength while seeing some secondary power play time.  Accordingly, the points weren’t exactly piling up as the Stars hoped when they traded for him in 2022.  That said, Lundkvist is still on his entry-level deal and he’d likely be of interest to quite a few rebuilding teams although his $925K cap hit doesn’t help much when it comes to matching money.  It’s unlikely Nill would move him for a rental player but if they could get an impact blueliner with some salary retention signed beyond this season, Lundkvist could conceivably be part of the package heading the other way.

In terms of other depth players who could go to help match money in a trade, Craig Smith and Sam Steel come to mind.  Both forwards (who are pending free agents) have fared relatively well on the fourth line but could slip out of the lineup should an upgrade be acquired.  Smith makes a bit more at $1MM while Steel is a little cheaper ($850K) but has one more year of team control though it comes with arbitration eligibility.  Neither player has much trade value directly but as pieces to help make the finances work, they’re candidates to be moved.

If they look to bring in someone with a bigger contract, the money-matcher going the other way could very well be Radek Faksa.  The 30-year-old is a strong defensive player but his offense simply hasn’t come around.  At $3.25MM through next season, he might be a luxury they can no longer afford if they add a bigger-ticket player.

One prospect who isn’t quite at Bourque and Stankoven’s level offensively in the minors but should draw some interest is Matej Blumel.  The 23-year-old is coming to the end of his entry-level deal and has 77 points in 99 career AHL games with Texas.  He also has six games of NHL experience under his belt.  Blumel will still have another year of waiver exemption after this one, giving him some extra value in a move.

Other Potential Trade Chips: F Oskar Back, F Nicholas Caamano, F Riley Damiani

Team Needs

1) Defensive Upgrade: There’s a definite gap between Dallas’ top three defensemen and the rest.  Getting a proven second-pairing option would certainly give that unit a boost while also hedging against injuries.  If the player happens to be a right-handed shot, that would be even more beneficial although, as always, impact right-defenders are in short supply and high demand.  If they can’t land a top-four player, adding some extra depth to hedge against injuries would be beneficial and affordable in their cap structure.

2) Experienced Third Goaltender: When Jake Oettinger missed time earlier this season, they leaned heavily on Scott Wedgewood with third-string option Matt Murray having very limited NHL experience.  If Dallas isn’t comfortable using Murray at this point, it would be worth trying to find a veteran third option, one who could be stashed in the minors and come up if one of Oettinger or Wedgewood go down.  This is the type of move where one of their AHL skaters could be on the move as the return for that insurance policy between the pipes.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.