Central Division: What Is Dallas Doing?
We continue looking around the Central Division today. Thus far, we’ve looked at the movement for:
Today, we’ll move our attention to the Dallas Stars. They lost Patrick Sharp to the Hawks and bought out Antti Niemi to clear up their goaltending… sort of. And then they went to work with some intriguing trades.
TRADES
- May 9 – acquired goaltender Ben Bishop from from the LA Kings for a 4th round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. Dallas then signed Bishop to a six-year, $29.5 million contract extension.
- June 26 – acquired defenseman Marc Methot from Vegas for Dylan Ferguson and a 2nd round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft
FREE AGENCY
- Signed forward Alexander Radulov to a six-year contract.
- Signed forward Martin Hanzal to a three-year contract
- Signed defenseman Patrick Nemeth to a one-year contract
- Signed forward Tyler Pitlick to a three-year contract.
Say what you want about the 5-year deal for Radulov – he’s still a very good player and will make the Stars better next season. Factor in improving their goaltending with Bishop and defense with Methot and the Stars will be better in all 3 areas next season.
True…unless Radulov decides to do what he did for Nashville. (Become a cancer then leave. Then come back and become a cancer again and get told to leave.)
I know he behaved one a 1 year show me contract last season but this could go either way…
I didnt know 54 points in 76 games was worth 6.25 for 5
Dallas spent a lot of money this offseason. If the Stars are better which they should be it will be a good offseason. If some of these older guys are banged up and start declining this team is going to look awfully bad quickly. Bishop played 39 games last season, Radulov who looks dominant at times is turning 30, and has such a small NHL sample size, Hanzal also 30 hasn’t been a + player since 12-13 season, Marc Methot at 32 will likely be a good move I would expect Klingberg to have a good season with pair with him.
Radulov turned 31 today.
DAL did the same thing a couple yrs ago and had a really good year. They will be better then last yr but not as good as they were that year.
McDavid re-upped at 12.5 for 8. Proving once again Chiarelli knows how to destroy a teams cap. He was an RFA. He didnt have the leverage to command that type of deal. Watch, he gives Draisatl 10.
McDavid had them over the barrel coulda asked for 20% of the cap 15 m/yr. or made it messy for them next year if he wanted. Actually did them a favour by taking less.
Galchenyuk MTL 3 yrs/14.7 M
Chiarelli could have made it messy for Mcdavid. With no guarantees of the cap increasing, and him being restricted. Chiarelli could have dug his heels in and said. It’s business so theres no hard feelings. It’s a poor business move on Chiarelli’s part not using the leverage he has. McDavid wasnt arbitration eligible so his only option for getting more money if Chiarelli played hardball would have been an offer sheet. 4 1st round picks for any salary over 9.8.
Don’t think saying here’s the door walk if you want, to your franchises future translates to a smart business decision.
Ernie, would you rather have McDavid or four 1st round picks?
The statistics show it is likely one pick will never play in the NHL, one won’t last more than 100 games, one will be a depth player and one will be good but probably not generational.
Now if you were assured 4 #1 overall picks you might have something. Problem is that the team that gets McDavid won’t be a lottery team for long.
To Ernie’s point on McDavid, besides the 4 picks, you save a lot of cap space that can buy some good players too. That makes the decision tougher. I would still take McDavid. He’s that good.
Another question is would you let two great players just past their prime walk or would you pay them 10.5m with a long term no trade contract?
In the cap world, even a UFA that walks is valuable. You can buy a few good players for 10.5 mil.
Another way of looking at this…is it better to have one 10.5m Toews and one 1.5m depth player or two 6m top 6 forwards on shorter term contracts?
I think the difference between McDavid and Toews is that one is entering their prime and one is past their prime. Huge difference.
Mcdavid will be due another huge contract when he’s 29 so when the dust all settles Toews may seem like a good deal for what he was paid over his career as so far he’s ahead 3 cups to none.
Ian…Who is more likely to win 3 more?
I see what you mean BLS but that depends on how Chiarelli handles the rest of the roster. I agree that from a hockey point of view Ernie’s angle works but from a business standpoint it had to be done to move forward and 97 held the aces. Somebody could have made a fortune 2 years ago taking bets that Crosby would have 2 more cups by now. I was around for the back to back to back dynasties of habs, isles and oilers of late 70s and 80s, when you could keep your teams together but today its not possible or predictable anymore.
I wasnt saying you take the picks. Simply that a GM with 10 million to spend on one player and THEIR OWN next 4 1st round picks has to step forward and offer McDavid paper. Its a rarity anyone is sent an offer sheet. That was Chiarelli’s leverage. If no one sends him a sheet and he cant come down in price he can sit out. Just under 60 grand a day.
I’m not saying Chiarelli should have gone that far. Just use that as leverage. To get that number to a more palatable level. 2 million more per year compared to the next highest paid guy is a huge step above.
Ernie between Mcdavid and soon to be probably signed Drisatil that is roughly 30% of your cap space to move the team from contender to champion you can’t spend a year in limbo with your franchise player that has to be done the sooner the better. Then you know what space you have to go get what you need ti do it. Yes offer sheets are a rarity but so are Connor Mcdavid calibur players and someone would almost certainly offer a max or close to it you have to match and only 1 year and be at it again. The 8yr./ 100m was just taking care of business.
Didn’t EDM just have four 1st picks.
Galchenyuk can be traded and that 4.9 caphit is similar to 15, so I like it.
That GM might be scared to be wise and use leverage. I think he did that in BOS and dicked around with the players contract raises and as soon as they were fa they all left and the team got nothing in return.
Toews isn’t past his prime, BLS. Sorry.
TAB, I believe he has. Watch some highlights of his early 20”s and compare that to last year. It just isn’t the same player.
He is still a great player and leader but his production has declined and will continue to decline.
http://www.tsn.ca/pinning-down-a-player-s-prime-performance-years-1.388514
Style of play is a factor and Toews plays straight on and gets the full attention (slash/hack/cross-check–dare I say ‘tackle and go’) of the people who don’t want him to be productive. J.T. plays hard and I believe his best years are in the past. Just my opinion.
An exception seems to be Crosby, but even he will decline post 30.
Perhaps 2o or 30 years ago Toews would be entering or in his prime.
He had an amazing 5 or 6 years that ranks with almost anyone, outside of the top 4 or 5 players of all time. And he can still be a very valuable part of this team.