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The commerce
Dallas Stars get: Defenseman Chris Tanev, goalie Cole Brady
Calgary Flames get: Defenseman Artem Grushnikov, Stars’ 2024 second-round decide, conditional third-round decide in 2026.
New Jersey Devils get: Stars’ 2026 fourth-round decide for retaining 50 p.c of Tanev’s wage.
Sean Gentille: Talking in generalities, this didn’t sound like a nasty deal for the Flames. Not initially, not less than. Picks and a prospect? Positive. That’s the final price ticket for a man like Chris Tanev — completed, battle-tested, right-handed, older however not fairly previous and a pending UFA. That will get you one thing good, if not one thing nice.
Every little bit of successive data, although, made the deal a little bit worse on the Calgary facet. The most effective decide is within the second spherical? OK. The prospect isn’t Logan Stankoven or Mavrik Bourque. Hmm. Liking it much less. The Flames are retaining 50 p.c of Tanev’s wage? Now we’re in “definitive winner, definitive loser” territory.
It’s not a disaster for Flames GM Craig Conroy. It’s actually a disappointment, although. Tanev isn’t simply nonetheless good; he’s the kind of participant contenders get googly eyes over, for all these causes we listed earlier. The truth that Conroy had so as to add a sweetener and nonetheless couldn’t snag a first-rounder or a greater prospect is weird. Artem Grushnikov was tenth on Scott Wheeler’s Stars prospect ranking earlier this month and within the “has an opportunity” tier of Corey Pronman’s forward of the season. He’s massive and a great skater, Pronman says, with a restricted offensive recreation.
Tanev’s damage historical past is prolonged, and the groups that might’ve used him most — like Vancouver and Toronto — in all probability weren’t Conroy’s most popular dance companions. All that must be thought of. However accepting what feels just like the naked minimal on a premium asset 9 days earlier than the deadline looks like a rookie mistake.
On the Stars facet, it’s all love. GM Jim Nill had practically no cap house out there to handle a obvious gap on the best facet of his protection, and he parlayed it into the best choice available on the market. Involving an Jap Convention crew was an additional layer of creativity. If Tanev’s shoulder holds up, he’ll give them an ideal choice to play behind Miro Heiskanen. Tanev is a shutdown defenseman who thrives on puck retrievals and performs main minutes. Whether or not he has taken a step again offensively or not is nearly immaterial; the Stars get loads of that elsewhere. They’re loading up for a Stanley Cup run, they usually’re doing it the best method: With an OGWAC who can really play.
Stars grade: A+
Flames grade: D
Shayna Goldman: That is an absolute slam dunk win for the Stars. Dallas had one clear want heading into the deadline: A gentle, right-handed defenseman. That was true earlier than the Nils Lundkvist damage. This was the one space the place the crew fell quick when measuring them on the Stanley Cup Checklist; now with Tanev, he slots in because the crew’s No. 3 which strikes the remainder of the blue line into extra applicable roles behind him.
With Thomas Harley on the highest pair, the Stars’ protection is considerably top-loaded. So this addition adjustments that — whether or not he slots behind that pair, and kinds a shutdown pair with Esa Lindell on the second, or finally ends up skating alongside both Harley or Miro Heiskanen for a extra balanced method. Both method, it should enable the Stars to shelter their backside pairing extra.
Tanev’s offense has trended down this yr, however he isn’t fully one-dimensional. For as conventional of a shutdown model as he performs, he additionally thrives at retrieving pucks and getting it out of his personal zone with management, which ought to assist clear up the Stars’ breakouts. His taking part in model does run some damage danger, and it doubtless will have an effect on how his recreation ages from right here. So the truth that the Stars introduced him in with none future dedication simply but is a plus.
The marginally proactive method advantages the Stars, too. Having him within the fold for doubtlessly 4 additional video games as a substitute of ready till deadline day ought to assist in the race for first place within the Central.
On the flip facet, it is a actual disappointment for Calgary. This didn’t come all the way down to the wire on deadline day and the Flames needed to settle as a result of there weren’t any higher choices. There may be greater than per week till the deadline, which ought to have been sufficient time to up the ante for Calgary. There was a whole lot of league-wide curiosity in Tanev — so how is this the most effective return for the Flames, particularly with 50 p.c wage retention? There are fascinating parts to Artem Grushnikov’s recreation, however Calgary ought to have seemed for somebody with extra certainty and upside with out a first-round decide within the return. The one and solely win for the Flames is that administration acknowledges what must be accomplished, and received’t danger pending UFAs strolling for nothing simply to go on yet another run.
Stars grade: A
Flames grade: D
(Picture: Sergei Belski / USA At this time)
