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"Hockeybuzz Stars blogger"
Ft Worth, TX • United States • 23 Years Old • Male
Just a quick opening thought: Michael Ryder is a perfect fit in Dallas, and man I hope this happens if it isn't going to be very expensive. He isn't very good defensively, and needs someone to hit him with a pass to set up his shot according to tsn's scouting profile on him, for what thats worth, but man he could be an asset. My only concern is that Modano isn't playing a ton of defense these days so that line could rack up a huge minus, but thats a chance you take when you pick up a 30 goal scorer. It seems like Ryder is getting shafted on PP time which is contributing to his point total. That won't be an issue here.

Now on to the business at hand...

With Tuesday looming is there any better time to evaluate what Dallas has to move? The first thing to recognize is which guys are key parts of the here and now, but also the future. Modano, Lehtinen, and Zubov aren't moving at this point. Morrow and Ribeiro have made themselves into cornerstones for the next 6-7 years. Marty Turco has been playing out of his mind this year so he's staying. Bob Sturm on the post game show said he has it on good authority that Matt Niskanen is untouchable. Robidas can definitely be thrown into that group with his play since Zubov and Boucher went down. Steve Ott is turning into a real player, Stu Barnes is Stu Barnes, and Jeff Halpern probably doesn't move at his salary. Barch and Winchester have negligible value so you can throw them in this group too.

I think any of the rest of these guys could go if Dallas addresses their holes. What shouldn't be suprising is the number of defenders on this list since Dallas is now waist deep in defense talent.
Mattias Norstrom: If someone has the salary room they could probably have him
Phillippe Boucher: With the young guys emerging he could be a piece used to bring in a scorer. He's also very affordable.
Trevor Daley: Daley is cheap, young, and can play D. He's a terrific skater so he'd have some value to a team looking for inexpensive players in return.
Nik Grossman: I hope he and Fistric can stay, but I doubt it happens. Grossman is going to be a good 2 way defender when he gets experience. The dude can pass.
Mark Fistric: Fistric is a solid defender, and his experience as a world juniors captain, his puck handling (which is improving...last night showed that), and natural leadership could make him very attractive.
The Finns: Nik Hagman and Antti Miettinen are both UFA. You may never be able to get more for Miettinen than you now can. He isn't a 3 mil per year player, and someone will pay him as a UFA. Hagman is gonna get paid as a UFA 30 goal scorer. Loui Eriksson has been looking better lately, but the fact that he's young/cheap/talented makes him a prime trade candidate. Jussi Jokinen is another to watch. He's playing alright and he definitely is a passer, but he doesn't have a role in Dallas. In the playoffs he becomes less valuable because there is no shootout. Dallas needs to be focusing on the playoffs at this point, and Jokinen's talent makes him very attractive to other teams.
Mike Smith: It would be hard to make your backup goalie untouchable, and Mike Smith isnt. If Ilya Bryzgalov had to be waived is there really any value in Mike Smith though?

That about sums it up. The main guys to watch are Norstrom, Jokinen, Eriksson, Fistric, Grossman, and Miettinen. Don't be suprised if a few of these guys are gone come Tuesday.
Filed Under:   Dallas   Stars   Trade Deadline  
February 23, 2008 1:58 PM ET | Delete
I can't see Montreal trading Ryder right now unless they get one of the big four (Hossa, Sundin, Jokinen, Tanguay). I know he's a UFA but he's been Montreal's best player the past few games, and seems to have regained his scoring touch from last season. Habs will need him (or a player of greater talent) if they want to make it deep into the playoffs
February 23, 2008 2:03 PM ET | Delete
From looking at his numbers it doesn't seem like he lost his scoring touch. It looks like his PP time has been cut. I hear what you're saying though, and I counter with this: Carbonneau and Gainey were both known in Dallas for their D. Id assume they still are very big on D. Wouldnt a swap of impending UFA (someone like Hagman or Miettinen) that play signiifcantly better defense make sense for both teams?
February 23, 2008 2:27 PM ET | Delete
no because montreals defence is fine, we need a sniper.so Mtl wont trade a sniper who is starting to light it up for a defensive player with no offensive upside I agree withe the ottawa guy ryder will be packaged in my mind for an impact player, what gainey stated he was going after.
February 23, 2008 3:06 PM ET | Delete
Thats fine if Montreal won't deal him because they need a sniper, but Hagman has 22 goals and 34 points this year. Miettinen has 12 and 29. They're not defensive guys with no offensive upside. Both are outperforming Ryder this year.
February 23, 2008 3:30 PM ET | Delete
If Ryder goes to Dallas I expect Steve Ott or Jeff Halpren to be part of that deal. Gainey has said that he needs a strong face-off man and it has become evident that the Habs need someone who can be physically assertive up front. Ott and Halpren are 57.5% and 54% a piece on face-offs and play a physical game. Ott would be the best return on this deal. ALSO, this can't be the only deal. We still need that "impact player".
February 23, 2008 3:50 PM ET | Delete
I dont think there is any chance Steve Ott is moving anywhere. He's becoming a force on this team. Last night he single handedly took the Oilers out of their gameplan. Jeff Halpern? I could see that. The salaries match up well too.
February 23, 2008 6:14 PM ET | Delete
I say the incoming should be (in order) HOSSA, PROSPAL, BLAKE or RECCHI. ALL would work VERY well on a line with MODANO - add that to MORROW adn RIBEIRO's line and you have two scoring lines that can also play D.I think HOSSA is VERY expensive, so is not the most likely. He COULD go for a HAGMAN-BOUCHER-Prospect/Draft Pick deal. But don't know if Dallas wants to go there.I say PROSPAL for age, ability and cost is the best choice to come over.BLAKE and the rejuvinated RECCHI are good additions but are getting up there in years.ANY of the four come over, though, they have less than 20 games to find their chemistry with MO. That makes all a risk, so the best bang for the buck is the most talent. HOSSA if he can be afforded, or PROSPAL for a more reasonable price are the two best moves for my money.I vote a new, scoring winger for MO's line by TUESDAY...
February 23, 2008 7:18 PM ET | Delete
Theres no way they can get Hossa for Boucher and Hagman. Dallas also isn't going to give up that much for a rental. I don't think I'd want any of Prospal Blake or Recchi. Jason Blake is a bad room guy, and hes way overpaid. Hossa is the only guy from that list I'd want, but if I'm taking back a UFA I want someone like Ryder that won't cost a ton to pick up. I also wouldn't specifically be looking for someone to play with Modano. A long-term linemate for Morrow/Ribeiro would be something I'd be more interested in which is where Ryder comes in.
February 23, 2008 8:14 PM ET | Delete
I respectfully rebutt that it will take two, scoring lines to get out of the WEST for the Cup. The only way to do it is to follow HULL's statement in Week 1 of GM-hood that they need to find someone to skate with MODANO.But heck - we won't know what will really happen until it does, do we? The Stars have looked very good WITHOUT BOUCHER and ZUBOV for the last several weeks, adn they seem to be working toward coming back with in the next few weeks.
February 23, 2008 10:30 PM ET | Delete
Modano isn't playing on a scoring line. His line's main responsibility is to check the other teams top line. He said so himself according to Darryl Reaugh. The Stars have 2 scoring lines, but Id move Jokinen to get a better centerman for Hagman's line. Obviously it will take 2 scoring lines to get out of the West, but Modano's line isnt the 2nd scoring line. Hagman/Jokinen/Miettinen is, and the way you improve the scoring is to improve on Jokinen or Miettinen.
February 24, 2008 1:07 PM ET | Delete
One thing is for sure - The Stars have some good team chemistry right now. That would seem to tell me they are only going to make one upgrade, which I think the pressure of last year's first round will force them to do. MO's line, or the Hagman line for the upgrade, I'm not sure. HULL said they need to find someone to skate with MO, who is doing pretty well at #3 for scoring on the team's checking line. Who's the biggest trade bait dangle in your opinion?
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