The NHL’s March 6 trade deadline is fast approaching, and all eyes are on Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill to see how he will look to improve his team ahead of the postseason.
The Stars need a top-four right-shot defenseman as well as a top-six forward to help replace the production of Tyler Seguin, who suffered an ACL injury in December.
The Stars have about $3.3 million in cap space to work with but could free up another $6 million through new rules if the team designates Seguin’s injury as season-ending, which means he would miss the rest of the regular season and the playoffs. The Stars are expected to decide on Seguin’s status shortly after the Olympic break.
Pending that decision, here are a handful of targets the Stars might consider trading for ahead of the deadline:
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Blake Coleman, Calgary Flames, LW
The Stars and Flames have been linked as trade partners for months now, and bringing Coleman home is among the options that makes the most sense.
The Plano native is about a 20-goal scorer with strong defensive instincts and penalty killing abilities. He could hold a middle-six role for Dallas and add depth in a number of areas for the forward group.
The 34-year-old was a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Lightning in 2020 (against the Stars) and 2021, and returning to his home market could be a perfect way to close out his career.
Coleman has one year left on his contract, worth $4.9 million annually. He took an upper-body injury in early January but is expected to return after the Olympic break.
Justin Faulk, St. Louis Blues, RHD
The Stars have needed a top-four right-shot defenseman who can play significant minutes for years now. Even in his 15th NHL season, Faulk could be the solution.
The 33-year-old is known as consistent and reliable on the defensive end, averaging over 22 minutes per night. He’s also scored 30 points (11 goals and 19 assists) in 57 games for St. Louis this season.
Faulk won’t be an unrestricted free agent until next summer and carries a $6.5 million cap hit, but if the Blues would retain some salary in a trade, Dallas could make it work.
Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils, RHD
Hamilton would fill a real need, but it might be at too high of a price. His $9 million cap hit on a contract that doesn’t expire until 2028 would be hard for the Stars to make fit for the next few years.
But he’s a mobile right-shot defenseman who averages more than 21 minutes per night and has logged 21 points (seven goals and 14 assists) in 52 games.
It might not be the most realistic of acquisitions, but the Stars will look at any skilled right-handed defenseman available. If not ahead of this deadline, it could be a move the Stars explore in the offseason.
Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames, C
The Stars already took one member of the Colorado Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup roster, so why not another?
At 35 years old, Kadri is still producing at a high offensive level, recording 39 points (10 goals and 29 assists) in 56 games this season.
With over 1,000 games of NHL experience, Kadri could bring some leadership into Dallas’ locker room; has familiarity with Mikko Rantanen; and could fill a role in the top six.
His contract is worth $7 million annually and runs through 2028-29, so the question is whether Dallas could fit him into the cap even while potentially extending Jason Robertson over the summer.
Evander Kane, Vancouver Canucks, LW
Kane is as polarizing a player as they come, and given Nill’s track record of prioritizing a player’s character, Kane’s lengthy history of off-ice issues could rule him out.
From assault allegations to gambling debts to submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccine card leading to a 21-game suspension, Kane has been the center of many controversies.
But multiple reports last month suggested the Stars have inquired about the possibility of trading for him.
Kane is known as a physical presence, ranking second on the Canucks in hits given this season with 94. That number would lead the Stars.
The Stars are also seeking a top-six left winger, one of the positions in which they lack the most depth behind Robertson. In his last full NHL season in Edmonton, Kane scored 24 goals. The Stars lost three 20-goal scorers last offseason in Mason Marchment, Evgenii Dadonov and Mikael Granlund and could use someone to fill that void.
Kane also has a history with Gulutzan, as the two spent four seasons together in Edmonton. Gulutzan has shown loyalty to his players from his time with the Oilers, including Adam Erne, whom Dallas signed to a contract out of a professional tryout in training camp.
Kane becomes a free agent in the offseason, so he could purely be a rental at $5.125 million. Vancouver may also be willing to retain part of his salary.
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