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Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Stars Have a Use for Dan Hamhuis

The veteran defender will help steady the Stars' blueline youth. Plus, more news about Stars past, present and future from the craziest day of the hockey year.

Jim Nill finally got his man. After a long and frustrating trade-deadline negotiation with the Vancouver Canucks that ultimately fell through (possibly due to a meddlesome owner), veteran defensive defenseman Dan Hamhuis has joined the Dallas Stars as a UFA signing.

The deal is ideal for a number of reasons, writes Mike Heika, and Hamhuis agrees:

Hamhuis has played for Ruff in the Olympics and also played with several Stars players in World Championships with Team Canada. Like Patrick Sharp last season, Hamhuis said he appreciates coming to a team that has a chance to contend for the Stanley Cup. Dallas went 50-23-9 last season and lost in Game 7 of the second round to St. Louis. It is pushing to improve on that next season.

"You look at all of the boxes that could be ticked off -- fit in the community, on the team, role on the team -- and the Stars had so many of those boxes ticked off," Hamhuis said. "And one of the biggest boxes is they are in a window to win right now."

And because the blueline is getting younger sooner rather than later, Hamhuis' two-year term is especially sensible:

While it seems strange a team that won 50 games would let go of half of its defense and 1,558 games in NHL experience, Stars general manager Jim Nill said the team could actually improve by trusting the kids.

"It's going to different, but we think it could be better," Nill said. "I think we're getting faster, and I think we're getting stronger on the back end."

There's always more at Mike's place. [SportsDayDFW]

If you'd like a data visualization of what Hamhuis can bring, Micah Blake McCurdy has you covered.

Here are 10 things you need to know about Dan (including his 2008 fight with a former Star who will remain nameless). [SportsDayDFW]

Ryan Kennedy goes so far as to say Hamhuis is "exactly what the Stars needed." [The Hockey News]

In other news, Patrick Eaves has re-signed for one year and $1 miilion, and the Stars' beard level IS OVER 9000!!!

Defenders Andrew Bodnarchuk and Dustin Stevenson joined the organization, possibly as depth signings for the Texas Stars while the big team continues to raid the development fridge.

Mark Stepneski recaps today's signings and re-signings. [Stars Inside Edge]

In sadder news (for Stars fans), Colton Sceviour signed a two-year deal with the Florida Panthers. [FOX Sports Florida]

And everyone's favorite grumpy dad, Vernon Fiddler, will skate with the New Jersey Devils next season. [NJ.com]

*****

Heika discussed what the Stars will and won't miss about Alex Goligoski (and how Alex Chiasson can fit in with the Calgary Flames) in his most recent Monday chat. [SportsDayDFW]

Yesterday, wow: Very action, such UFA. There's just no time to sort through every bit of it, so NHL.com has a tracker. [NHL]

Probably the single biggest deal of the day: The Tampa Bay Lightning kept #winning and kept stud D-man Victor Hedman with an eight-year deal at $7.875 million per.

Los Angeles Kings power forward Milan Lucic ended days of speculation over whether he would join the Stars by signing with the Edmonton Oilers for seven years and $42 million.

As it turns out, Dallas was never really in contention.

Team Sweden's top forward line will reunite as Loui Eriksson joins the Sedin twins and the Canucks for six years and $36 million.

You already know that Loui makes any team instantly better – but Matt Larkin thinks the 'Nucks ought to be in rebuild mode instead.

Meanwhile, St. Louis Blues captain David Backes is more the Boston Bruins' kind of player than Luuuu ever was, and the Spoked B just gave him five years and $30 million to prove it. [Puck Daddy]

Not everyone is impressed.

The Arizona Coyotes have re-signed blueliner and former Star Kevin Connauton to a two-year contract. [FOX Sports Arizona]

Yotes captain Shane Doan became a free agent yesterday, but new GM John Chayka says talks between the team and its longest-tenured player are continuing. [Arizona Republic]

Steve Ott is now playing for his dream team: The veteran agitator and former Star has signed for one year with the Detroit Red Wings.

The Wings grabbed another Central Division forward by signing former Minnesota Wild LW Thomas Vanek. [Detroit Free Press]

And LW Andrew Ladd, a deadline trade who was cap-squeezed out of an extension from the Chicago Blackhawks, landed on his feet in a big way, signing a seven-year deal with the New York Islanders. [ESPN]

Uh-oh. Will Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin regret the P.K. Subban trade sooner rather than later? [National Post]

Let's face it, people will be trying to make sense of the Subban and Taylor Hall trades for months, if not years. Joshua Kloke takes his best shot here. [Sports Illustrated]

Ken Campbell picks the winners and losers from Day 1 of Free-Agent Frenzy 2016. [The Hockey News]

It's a hard life, and it's harder when you're stupid. Gary Lawless comments on the "rash overreaching" to which many NHL GMs seem to be addicted. [TSN]

Finally: Yesterday was also Canada Day, which means our neighbors in the Great White North actually got a holiday for all this FA beeswax. DBD's own Derek says this poutine's for you. Enjoy.

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