The Dallas Stars had a tremendous 2015-16 season, but they couldn’t reach the Western Conference finals, so might we see general manager Jim Nill make substantial changes to progress further next campaign?
Well, veteran winger Patrick Sharp might be used as a trade chip to address Dallas’ major weaknesses, which lie on the blue line and in net.
Sharp was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stars shortly after winning the Stanley Cup last year. The top-six winger tallied 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists) in 76 games for Dallas this past season, which isn’t bad at all.
However, Sharp is 34 years old, and his most productive days clearly are behind him. His value won’t go anywhere but down as he ages and his scoring likely dwindles a bit.
The time to move him is this summer, and unless the Stars upgrade their defensive skill and depth, the Stanley Cup won’t be a realistic goal. Using Sharp to fix these issues through the trade market makes the most sense for Dallas.
Thumbnail photo via Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports Images
