The team moved swiftly to address weaknesses in their lineup, but questions have arisen about whether these acquisitions have genuinely strengthened the roster.
While some fans and analysts are skeptical about the improvements made, a closer examination of the Dallas Stars’ free agent signings reveals the following:
Stars Free Agent Moves
Enhancing the Forward Corps
Before the start of free agency, the Stars traded forward Ty Dellandrea to San Jose. In response, their initial moves were aimed at securing their existing forward lineup. Matt Duchene inked a one-year, $3 million deal to return, reflecting his solid performance on the second line last season and his potential leadership role following the departures of Joe Pavelski and Ryan Suter.
Additionally, the Stars dealt forward Radek Faksa to St. Louis in exchange for future considerations, which freed up cap space and a roster spot on the fourth line. This facilitated the re-signing of Sam Steel, who is expected to step into Faksa’s position. This move is viewed as an upgrade for Dallas, given Steel’s youth and promising performance towards the end of the previous season.
With approximately $7.1 million still available in cap space, there remains the possibility of adding more depth and competition to the team’s bottom six forwards.
Building a Strong Blue Line
Defense was a top priority for the Stars in free agency following an inconsistent performance in the previous season. While Chris Tanev’s arrival via trade at the deadline provided significant help, his contract demands as an unrestricted free agent led to a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tanev secured a six-year deal averaging about $4.5 million annually with Toronto.
Dallas addressed their defensive needs by re-signing Thomas Harley as a restricted free agent and securing Nils Lundkvist on an unrestricted deal. However, the team still faced challenges, particularly in finding right-handed defensemen and enhancing overall defensive depth.
To address these issues, the Stars brought in three new defensemen: Matt Dumba, Brendan Smith, and Ilya Lyubushkin. Among them, Dumba stands out as the most experienced, although his recent performance decline has sparked some discontent among Stars’ fans regarding his signing.
In summary, while the Stars have been proactive in bolstering their roster through free agency, the effectiveness of these moves remains a topic of debate among fans and analysts alike.
Despite Jim Nill’s consecutive GM of the Year Awards, Dallas Stars fans have valid concerns about the team’s recent moves. While Chris Tanev was likely unaffordable, the replacements for him appear to be temporary fixes at best.
Matt Dumba, a veteran of ten years, is coming off his worst two seasons and is now expected to fill a spot on the Stars’ second defensive pairing. Brendan Smith, known for his offensive prowess, even played forward during his tenure in Detroit. Committing $3.25 million annually to 30-year-old defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, who has underperformed recently, carries considerable risk.
While there are still options available in defense, Dallas needs to find cost-effective solutions that make sense for the team’s roster.
Goalie Changes
The Stars made unexpected moves in their goaltending department. Starter Jake Oettinger remains, but the rest of the group saw significant changes.
Amidst rumors of tough negotiations, Scott Wedgewood departed for the Nashville Predators. Dallas opted to replace him with Casey DeSmith. While Wedgewood was popular among fans and in the locker room, DeSmith brings more career wins and a better goals-against average, all at a lower annual salary.
In a surprise move, Dallas chose not to retain restricted free agent Matt Murray, who had fluctuated between the NHL and AHL over the past two seasons. It was evident that Dallas needed to make a decision about Murray’s future with the team, and the decision was to move on from him.
At present, Dallas has two goalies on their roster. While carrying three goalies has not been common practice under the current front office, it hasn’t happened since Pete DeBoer took over as head coach.
Overall Offseason
During the initial wave of NHL free agency, the Dallas Stars focused on stabilizing their forward lines and attempting to shore up their defense, which was a glaring weakness. Although Chris Tanev was a top priority, his asking price apparently exceeded Dallas’ budget.
As a result, the team took calculated risks by bringing in players with limited recent production or who are nearing the end of their careers, which has left fans less than enthusiastic. However, if these moves prove successful, Jim Nill could be praised once again and potentially contend for a third consecutive GM of the Year award.
The Stars aimed to enhance their roster while preserving their offensive capabilities. Despite some underwhelming signings, they targeted critical areas of need. Moreover, with the offseason still unfolding, Dallas may have further plans in store.
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