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Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Stars’ Draft Choices Affect Their Free Agency Strategy

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

The Dallas Stars come home from a busy NHL Entry Draft with a group of shiny new prospects, including the consensus-best defender and goaltender available. Now it’s time to deal with next season.

GM Jim Nill received the draft equivalent of free money when the lottery gave the Stars third pick overall, and he has no regrets about using it rather than trading it for immediate need, writes Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News:

Dallas still would love to get a left-handed defenseman to play beside either John Klingberg or Julius Honka. Many believed Nill’s best opportunity was to use some combination of the third and 29th picks in the draft. Nill had options to move back in the draft and possibly give up the 29th pick, but he said the opportunity to add [Miro] Heiskanen and [Jake] Oettinger changed his mind.

“You just don’t get a chance to get those players every day, so we weighed our choices and decided to make the picks,” Nill said of taking talented defenseman Heiskanen third and moving up to 26th to get big goalie Oettinger. “We really feel good about it.”

The Stars go into free agency with about $20 million in cap space, before any buyouts. Would the team be willing to overpay in cash for a UFA like the Washington Capitals’ Karl Alzner as a placeholder for their potential franchise 1LD?

“It’s one of the tools we can use, so we need to look at it,” Stars president Jim Lites said. “You overpay, but you also don’t give up any assets, and there is appeal to that. If we have the room to pay, then why not protect our assets?”

…

“We are always trying to improve, so we want to add a good player,” Nill said. “But he needs to be a very good player. We don’t need to panic, because there’s no reason to panic.”

There’s more at Mike’s place. [SportsDayDFW]

Do the Stars already have the forward help they need? Either or both of Patrick Sharp and Aleš Hemsky could return for 2017-18.

The Stars posted more info and more photos on the entire draft class of 2017.

Scott Burnside introduces the highest draft pick in the Stars’ history in Dallas as a talented yet responsible kid who “[acts] like anything but a star.”

ICYMI, Heiskanen and forward prospect Roope Hintz have been teammates before.

Miro was one of a record number of Finnish players (six) to be drafted in the first round, among 23 overall. Sean Shapiro examines the strong Suomi class of 2017. [FanRag Sports]

He also looks at reasons why the Stars did well to select Heiskanen and Oettinger during the first round.

The Edmonton Oilers made the playoffs this year, but you could say they’re still winning draft lotteries: At No. 22, they got Kailer Yamamoto, who is now officially the smallest first-rounder in NHL history. [Puck Daddy]

The Pittsburgh Penguins brought the Stanley Cup to Chicago with them (rank that on a scale of one to savage), and then brightened some firefighters’ day with it, which is…kind of above reproach.

The Pens made the wrong kind of headlines when they swapped No. 31 overall and prospect center Oskar Sundqvist for St. Louis Blues face-puncher Ryan Reaves, but the trade may not be quite as bad as it sounds. [FanRag Sports]

The Chicago Blackhawks traded a package containing 2016 Calder Trophy winner Artemi Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a package that returns Brandon Saad. Does this actually make sense for the ’Hawks? [USA Today]

Dearest Annabelle: Patrick Eaves has re-signed with the Anaheim Ducks for three years and $9.45 million. [ESPN]

The neighbors were so delighted at the news that they left congratulatory duck signs on the Major’s front lawn. [SB Nation]

And T.J. Oshie isn’t going anywhere for now, either: He’s re-signed with the Caps for eight years and $46 million. [Washington Post]

T.J.’s daughter is happy to stay in D.C.

Will the 2018 Draft take place in Dallas? There’s no contract in place, but signs may point to Yes.

NHL legend Mike Bossy looks back on his own days as a prospect in The Players’ Tribune’s latest Letter to My Younger Self.

The U.S. Women’s Hockey Team makes the list of athletes featured in ESPN The Magazine’s 2017 Body Issue. [NHL on NBC]

Joe Thornton and Brent Burns will appear as well, and no, these are not the San Jose Sharks’ new uniforms.

Finally: @DallasStars reminds you that there will be extra credit for proper grammar. Enjoy.

Talking Points