Just because the Dallas Stars traded away Mike Ribeiro to the Washington Capitals doesn’t mean that they are tearing things down. The more likely response is that they're preparing for something a little more.
Remember, the Stars' financial woes are more or less gone with a new owner at the helm in Tom Gagliardi. So getting rid of Ribeiro and his $5 million cap hit in exchange for Cody Eakin wasn't just a salary shedder. First off Gagliardi, who was on hand at the draft this weekend with the Stars but was only spectating, is a fan of Eakin having seen him in the WHL back in Gagliardi's home of Vancouver.
Secondly, Gagliardi seems to be itching to make a splash. The Stars have a few guys to build around in Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson among others, so he would like to supplement that core.
“We’re definitely adjusting, so we don’t have a budget yet, but we’re prepared to be in there on any player,” Gagliardi told Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News. “We want to be smart, and we want to build the team for the long-term, to be a long-term winner, but we also know that we have free agency and we have trades, and we have to be prepared to use both of them to get better. There’s a reason for free agency, and it can help you get better without giving up assets.”
So you can add Dallas to the list of teams that are interested in getting in the mix for the best free agents out there, specifically Ryan Suter and Zach Parise.
But being realists here, I think we can safely call their odds long of getting either of the two best the market has to offer. However, the third best option might be intriguing for Dallas. I'm referring to forward Alexander Semin.
During this season when there was nothing but idle chatter regarding the possibility of the Capitals trading Semin and getting something for him, most always brought up the fact that there likely wasn't a market for him but I felt all along that Dallas would actually be a fit. They have a new boss who wants to make a move, they have plenty of money to spend and it's a market that might be quiet enough to allow Semin to keep a low profile.
However that's just me speculating. Of course one could look at the Stars and say they already have strength on the wings.
The point, though, is don't be surprised to hear the Stars trying to make some big plays. They have an owner who wants to do it and a market that could use an injection of a little life.
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