Dallas Stars Daily Links: Draft Weekend Wrap-Up
The Stars didn’t make many picks, but left the draft happy. Plus, the major trades from the weekend, free agency updates, and more.
In the wise words of Porky Pig, “That’s All Folks!” The 2019 NHL Entry Draft has come and gone, and the Dallas Stars have now welcomed four new prospects to the organization.
That’s not a lot, but the Stars left the draft content:
“We’re happy,” said Stars general manager Jim Nill. “We knew we didn’t have a lot of picks going in, but we thought the scouts did a great job with what we had. We love our first-round pick, and I thought who we picked from the fourth round down, we did a good job.”
After taking Thomas Harley with the 18th overall pick, the Stars didn’t have another pick until the fourth round. But while they may be long-shots to make the NHL, it’s still worth getting a bit over-excited over players like Samuel Sjolund:
“He’s a highly-skilled kid. We’re very high on his overall ability,” said Joe McDonnell, the Stars director of amateur scouting. “I think he’s built for today’s game. Really good skater, moves the puck well. He has your typical Swedish skillset, so we are excited about him.”
You can read more from Mike Heika here.
Around the League
Here’s what the Stars’ draft leader, Director of Amateur Scouting, Joe McDonnell, had to say about this year’s selections:
"We were happy with everybody."
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) June 23, 2019
Stars Director of Amateur Scouting Joe McDonnell discusses what he likes about this year's #NHLDraft picks. pic.twitter.com/VvUWbrPhSV
Dallas didn’t make any trades at the draft, but it looks like there’s a market for Julius Honka:
The direction of Honka trade winds and what else I’m hearing after the NHL draft https://t.co/NDdptK9DIj
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) June 23, 2019
The salary cap for the upcoming season has been set to $81.5 million. That’s, uhh, less than ideal:
The Stars have just under $10 million in cap space now. There's a top-six forward that will likely eat up at least half of that. Then Dickinson, Ritchie and Honka are the remaining RFAs for Dallas.
— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) June 22, 2019
Around the League
You’ve likely heard about them all by now, but let’s have a rundown of the major trades from the weekend just in case.
First up, the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to hand off Patrik Marleau’s contract, giving up a first-round pick to the Carolina Hurricanes to make it happen:
.@SportChek Player Alert: The @MapleLeafs have acquired a 2020 sixth-round pick from Carolina in exchange for Patrick Marleau, a conditional first round pick (2020) and a seventh round pick (2020).
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) June 22, 2019
Details >> https://t.co/5A24Knvfbz pic.twitter.com/vu4M2sUgfX
Second, in arguably the biggest trade of the weekend, the Nashville Predators cleared some cap space of their own by trading P.K. Subban to the New Jersey Devils:
The #NJDevils have acquired defenseman P.K. Subban from the Nashville Predators, in exchange for Steven Santini, Jeremy Davies, and two second-round picks (the 34th overall this season and the team's 2020 second-rounder).
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) June 22, 2019
Finally, you’ll never guess what the Tampa Bay Lightning accomplished by trading J.T. Miller to the Vancouver Canucks for a first-round pick:
WE HAVE A TRADE TO ANNOUNCE: #Canucks acquire J.T. Miller from the Lightning in exchange for Marek Mazanec, a 2019 third round pick and a 2020 conditional pick. #NHLDraft https://t.co/VEZhKsubQf
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 22, 2019
By trading Subban, the Nashville Predators have become the top contender for UFA Matt Duchene. But will they even get him?
Moving PK Subban makes sense for #Preds. But what Poile does with the $$ will make or break this deal. My column:https://t.co/bZDlPaHKwT@TheAthleticNSH @TheAthleticNHL pic.twitter.com/EqmRmPROH8
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) June 23, 2019
Meanwhile, the Leafs have the space to extend Mitch Marner, but that doesn’t mean the young winger won’t keep his options open:
The expectation is that the Marner camp will hear from teams when the RFA speaking period opens Wednesday.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 22, 2019
One RFA that won’t consider an offer sheet? William Karlsson, who is set to sign a max term deal with the Vegas Golden Knights:
William Karlsson will sign an 8-year deal worth $5.9 million AAV to remain a Golden Knight. Deal is expected to be signed in the next two days. #VegasBorn @TheAthleticNHL
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) June 23, 2019
Finally...
You probably have draft fatigue by now, but this is still a must-read:
Nick Robertson (brother of Stars prospect, Jason) was the 53rd pick
— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) June 24, 2019
This comes after he was born prematurely on 9/11.
At 28 weeks.
Put on life support.
Multiple failed treatments.
Here is the best story to come out of NHL Draft Weekend, by @seanshapiro👇https://t.co/ZN0awzdYEq