This year, Dallas Stars’ GM Jim Nill isn’t entirely happy with where his team is at. While silent for most of the deadline, the Stars made their biggest moves on the final week of the NHL trade deadline. With one of the new additions scoring in his first game in Dallas.
Welcome to Dallas, Evgenii Gadonov
First game up with his new team, Evgenii Dadonov wasted no time on making an impact. The 33 year old right winger scored in his Stars’ debut this past Monday night vs the Vancouver Canucks. Giving the team,and it’s fans hope that he can spark an offense that has been stale on most nights over the last month.
Playing on a line with Jamie Benn, and Wyatt Johnston it looks like Dadonov seems to have found good chemistry on his new team. A team that struggled with offense for much of the 2023 calendar year after a fast start to the season. Adding a depth player like Dadonov can jumpstart that struggling offense.
Thank you, Guri
While Denis Gurianov moving on from the Stars suited the best interests for both parties involved, fans will more often than not remember Gurianov for his best in victory green. As opposed to his struggles over the past two seasons on offense, and with turnovers. In the end the Stars needed more offensively, and Guri needed a fresh start on a new team
Gurianov was still that guy who lit up the Calgary Flames with a four goal game six performance. He also had this goal that will go on in Dallas lore that sent them to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Max Domi is a Star
While the Stars are in need of another defenseman who can generate offense, they made an acquisition that they were in greater need of. The Stars signed Max Domi that addressed a greater need for the team; depth scoring on offense. In addition to adding Domi to the team, Dylan Wells came over from the Chicago Blackhawks. In addition for Anton Khudobin (who has spent the season with the AHL’s Texas Stars) to Chicago. As Nill stated, the Stars are excited to add this free agent to the team.
“We’re excited to add a player of Max’s caliber to our lineup,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a release. “His offense this season speaks for itself, but he’ll also provide energy, grit and a veteran presence as we continue our push to the postseason.”
Final swap
Thursday night, and Friday afternoon saw Nill make the last of his moves. Playing the free agent market carefully, and calculatedly in typical Nill fashion. Highlighted by the swap of Jacob Peterson to the San Jose Sharks for Scott Reedy.
Photo credit: Jae Lee/Dallas News
This years trade deadline did not make the noise that of Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers, but the Stars didn’t sit around and allow other teams to leave them in the dust either. Nill, and the Stars quietly were one of the NHL’s winners this year’s trade deadline.
Featured photo: houstonchronicle.com
