The Dallas Stars’ offseason is starting to pick up. With yesterday’s new contracts for Roman Polak and Mattias Janmark, there’s even more conversation fodder about the extensions, and trades, the team could make over the summer.
The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks is still holding regular live chats. In the latest, he tackled questions about the Stars’ elite goalie tandem – including one about whether the Stars will trade the guy who helped make the 2019 playoffs possible:
As much of a cop-out as this is, it depends what the return is. Anton Khudobin is not untouchable. He’s a backup goalie that makes $2.5 million for one more season until free agency. He is probably one of the more valuable backups in the league not only because of his performance but also Ben Bishop’s injury history. But if there is a deal out there (and I don’t know if there is) that helps the Stars down the road, it’s worth listening to at the very, very least.
He also addressed the question of picking up a major UFA in free agency (outlook: not likely):
They can probably pick up one high-priced target, whether that’s on the free agent market or the trade market. They have $16.4 million in cap space right now, and about $6 million will go to the bare minimum of qualifying RFAs like Jason Dickinson, Janmark, Brett Ritchie and Julius Honka, and that could total closer to $8 or 9 million. Add in a $6 million investment in a player like Mats Zuccarello or similarly-price player, and there is not cap space to chase another whale.
There’s more behind the paywall. [SportsDayDFW]
Stars Stuff
Pick your favorite, and no, you can’t choose “Down goes Marchand” before you look at the others.
Our photographers got some great shots when the guys dropped the gloves this season. Which one is your favorite?@DennysDiner | #GoStars
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) June 6, 2019
Is this a thing? Can you actually purchase one of these? Because if you can’t, it’s just rude.
Friday is #NationalDonutDay! Get a FREE donut with the purchase of any beverage at your nearest @DunkinDFW location! pic.twitter.com/z08tccTEts
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) June 7, 2019
Around The League(s)
Another missed penalty, another Stanley Cup Final game for the St. Louis Blues….
From @FlutoShinzawa who doesn’t hold back regarding the non-call last night…. https://t.co/osQfUAgKh8
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 7, 2019
…and Matt Larkin is one of those who saw this coming.
The Blues are battering the Bruins physically. The Stanley Cup final might come down to whether the Blues can keep doing that on the right side of the law, writes @THNMattLarkin: https://t.co/rez7q3rCjg
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) June 5, 2019
How in the world did the Pantera story not make it into this video? Do I need to speak to Rob Pizzo’s manager?
What happens with the Cup, stays with the Cup…until now. @robpizzo gives us the goods, on the 9 stories the #StanleyCup would tell…in 90 seconds. pic.twitter.com/DBoG4Ty9o8
— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) June 7, 2019
The Stars made this list, at least.
In a 2-2 series, the winner of Game 5 often wins the #StanleyCup.
Will the @StLouisBlues add their name to this list? pic.twitter.com/TK6wUSJRfc
— #StanleyCup on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) June 7, 2019
And you can still see to it that they make the 2019 NHL Fan Choice Awards. The voting deadline is June 15. [NHL]