After a listless performance in Sunday’s night loss to the Los Angeles Kings and a beating from the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night, the writing was on the wall for the Dallas Stars’ season. They’d already traded one unrestricted free agent-to be in their captain, Brenden Morrow, and it became apparent that their two other big names UFAs, Derek Roy and Jaromir Jagr, could be the next to go.
Well, on April 2nd, one day before the trade deadline, that’s exactly what happened.
DAL trades Derek Roy to VAN for Kevin Connauton and a 2nd rd pick. #tradecentre
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) April 2, 2013
Derek Roy was the first to go. The 29-year old center, who was unable to agree with the Stars on a contract extension, was sent packing to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2nd round pick and a talented, puck-moving defensive prospect in Kevin Connauton. Roy, who was acquired in exchange for Steve Ott and Adam Pardy last summer, played just 30 games with the Stars, producing 4 goals and 22 points.
While it would have been preferable for the Stars to get another center in return, Connauton is a fantastic addition to an already promising group of defensive prospects. He joins the recently-acquired Joe Morrow as well as Brenden Dillon, Jamie Oleksiak, Ludvig Bystrom, and Patrik Nemeth, a group of defenseman all in their teens or early 20s. At least on the blue line, the Stars future seems bright.
Jagr trade is official. Stars get Lane MacDermid, Cody Payne and a conditional 2nd round pick that turns to a 1st if Bruins win 2 rds.
— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) April 2, 2013
Next to go was Jaromir Jagr. This trade stung. The reports of the two sides working on a contract extension had many, including myself, hopeful that the legend would remain in Dallas. Unfortunately, General Manager Nieuwendyk felt it necessary to move him when a deal could not be made. The return from the Boston Bruins, a conditional 2nd round pick, an average prospect in Cody Payne, and Lane McDermid, an enforcer at every level he’s played, was not what many had hoped.
The condition on the 2nd round pick, that it turns into a 1st round pick if the Bruins win two playoff series, is the saving grace. The Stars, as of this moment, have nine selections in the 2013 NHL Draft, and could possibly have two first round picks. For a team who’s finally decided to undergo a rebuild, this is a good place to start.
So, who’s next? Will Stephane Robidas be traded? Eric Nystrom? Or will there be a shocker that no one sees coming? The gloves are off at this point.