Dallas Stars fans wanted action. It’s here, and it is not for the faint of heart.
Multiple sources are reporting that a deal to send Tyler Seguin and Richard Peverley and Ryan Button to Dallas in exchange for Loui Eriksson, Matt Fraser, Reilly Smith, and Joe Morrow is complete.
Seguin, Peverly and Button to Stars. For Eriksson, J.Morrow R.Smith and Matt Fraser.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 4, 2013
Jim Nill has stated publicly that he’d like to get Jamie Benn back on the wing. Now we know how committed he was to that goal, as the Stars part with a key member of their core group, as Tom Gaglardi and Jim Lites have stated time and time again when referring to Loui Eriksson.
They feel Tyler Seguin is worth it, and Boston’s cap situation is affording them the opportunity. Add to it the fact that the Stars plan to have Benn, Erik Cole, and Ray Whitney on the wings already with possible Alex Chiasson and Valeri Nichushkin, and you have a position of surplus helping to fill a position of need.
As our own Josh Lile pointed out his limited (very) faceoff totals in the last three seasons combined suggests otherwise, and the Stars will have to learn to live with a similar plan or throw him in the deep end. Jamie Benn can’t help on the wing there.
Still, Tyler Seguin had the year’s FIFTH best CORSI rating at even strength among all players recording at least 30GP.
Seguin is signed for the next six seasons at a cap hit of $5.75M per. Rich Peverley’s number is at $3.25M for the next two seasons. In Peverley the Stars get what is considered to be a “solid” player but his inclusion may be cap motivated for the Bruins, who now clear massive room and can bring back Nathan Horton.
Nevertheless, Peverley can be the “third line center” and do it very well. He saw tough minutes in Boston and, though not one of the Bruins’ heavier penalty killers, could be one of Lindy Ruff’s here.
As for the prospects out-going – Reilly Smith has potential but couldn’t realize it in his rookie season. He’ll get another chance with Boston. Matt Fraser has been tremendous for the Texas Stars but his scoring wasn’t accompanied by enough of a two-way skill set for the Stars, and Joe Morrow we barely knew, newly arrived in the Brenden Morrow trade.
Without Jack Campbell, Nemeth, Oleksiak, Faksa, Ritchie, Stransky etc being in the deal Stars fans will likely have a hard time being too broken up about it.
Loui Eriksson, however, is a treasure. Getting equal value for all things quantifiable and the many more that aren’t where Loui is involved may not be possible, and the move will certainly be met with skepticism and derision from many.
“We want to thank Loui, Reilly, Matt and Joe for all they’ve done for our organization,” stated Nill on Thursday. “It isn’t easy parting with such quality people, but to do a deal of this magnitude, you need to give to get. We wish those players the best of luck, but at the same time, we’re very excited with the future of our franchise and feel as if we’ve established a quality core of centers that you need to have in order to succeed in this League.”
Stars fans have seen the names on their jersey-backs parade out of town at a rapid pace in recent years. Brenden Morrow, Brad Richards, Marty Turco, Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen, etc.
Add Loui Eriksson to the heap. Then try to realize that it’s likely worth it for a possible franchise center who is only 21 years old, signed to what’s a reasonable number in Expensive-Center-Town, NHL.
You can handle losing Loui Eriksson on the wing if your new winger is Jamie Benn.
Welcome to Dallas, Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley. Time to wait and see what Nill has up his sleeves next.
Here’s the press release:
FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has acquired centers Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley and defenseman Ryan Button from the Boston Bruins in exchange for left wing Loui Eriksson, right wings Reilly Smith and Matt Fraser and defenseman Joe Morrow.
Seguin (SAY-gihn), 21, finished tied for third on Boston with 32 points (16G-16A=32P) while appearing in all of the team’s 48 games. He finished tied for seventh in the League with a +23 plus/minus rating and his 16 goals were second most on Boston.
Amongst those selected in his 2010 NHL Draft class, he leads all players in regular season games played (203) and is third in goals, assists and points (56G-65A=121P). Over the last two seasons, his +57 plus/minus rating is second in the League behind only Boston’s Patrice Bergeron.
A three-year veteran, Seguin has already appeared in 42 career postseason games earning 18 points (6G-12A=18P). Of that experience, 12 of the games have come in the Stanley Cup Final where he won in 2011 and lost in 2013. During the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, Seguin posted an assist in four out of the six games (0G-4A=4P)
“Tyler is a dynamic player that will be a part of our core group for a long time to come,” said Nill. “A player at his age, position and talent level are extremely difficult to acquire and we’re thrilled to bring him into our organization.”
The 6-foot-1, 182-pound native of Brampton, Ontario was originally selected by Boston in the first round (2nd overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft.
Peverley, 30, posted 18 points (6G-12A=18P) in 47 regular season games for Boston in 2012-13. He finished second on the team in faceoff percentage (58.4%) and averaged 1:54 of shorthanded time on ice per game.
A seven-year veteran, Peverley has posted 211 points (77G-134A=211P) in 380 career regular season games with Nashville, Atlanta and Boston. He has appeared in the Stanley Cup Final twice, winning in 2011, accumulating 21 points (9G-12A=21P) in 59 career postseason contests.
“Rich is an extremely reliable center that is great in the faceoff circle and will help us as a puck possession team,” said Nill. “Being able to add two centermen in this deal will solidify a very important position, while allowing Jamie Benn to return to his natural spot at wing.”
The 6-foot, 195-pound native of Kingston, Ontario was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Nashville on Jan. 17, 2007. He was claimed off waivers by Atlanta from Nashville on Jan. 10, 2009. He was then acquired by Boston along with Boris Valabik from Atlanta in exchange for Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart on Feb. 18, 2011.
Button, 22, appeared in 25 games for the Providence Bruins last season, Boston’s top affiliate in the AHL, recording 15 penalty minutes. The 6-foot, 185-pound defenseman has played 95 games as a professional hockey player, posting nine points (1G-8A=9P) in his time with Providence (AHL), Reading (ECHL), and South Carolina (ECHL). The Edmonton, Alberta native was originally selected by the Boston Bruins in the third round (86th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft.