This deal is a master class in throwing the first punch and dictating the market yourself instead of waiting around to see what others are doing. The Stars, who are tied for No. 1 in the Central Division with 79 points, have followed up their Western Conference Final run with an even more consistent regular season.
This team has everything: goaltending (when Jake Oettinger plays up to his potential), young players breaking out, a large veteran presence that's still producing, some middle-aged (in hockey years) steady talent and depth.
The one issue rearing its head lately has been defense, especially with injuries to Jani Hakanpää and Nils Lundkvist. So you know what GM Jim Nill did? He said, "I'm simply going to go after the best defenseman available right now, who also happens to fit the defensive-defenseman mold we're lacking."
Not only did he accomplish that, but he also managed to get Tanev at a 75 percent discount, without forfeiting a No. 1 draft pick, and perhaps most shrewd of all—without giving up one of their absolute best prospects (and they have plenty). The emergence of Logan Stankoven lives on in Dallas, and the team managed to address its only need for less than $2 million.
