Dallas Stars: Key Free Agents the Team Must Pursue

If the NHL Playoffs were to start today, the Dallas Stars, for the fourth season in a row, would be on the outside looking in. While fans in Phoenix, Long Island or of recent, Edmonton might not take that so harshly, the Dallas Stars were constant winners all throughout the 1990s and 2000s. 

The team's woes on ice, has also resulted in a decline of interest in DFW, though the recent purchase of the team by Tom Gaglardi has spurred some life back in the team. The Stars cannot continue to sell seats to their games for nine dollars. They shouldn't have to. The ultimate way to get Dallas rockin', like it was for the past 15 years, is to be a winner. Dallas is a great sports town, but much like all cities, they love a winner, and right now, the Mavs and Rangers are winning.

The Stars have made it clear, they do not want to trade their young players for veterans such as Rick Nash or Bobby Ryan, but will try to grow from within the organization, and sign key free agents. The Stars have some young talent in the prospect pool, and an emerging superstar in Jamie Benn, but clearly it is not enough. 

These are the free agents the Stars must pursue in order to get back to the playoffs, and to get the people of Dallas interested in hockey again. 

Zach Parise

Zach Parise may or may not be traded before the NHL trade deadline, and it won't be to the Dallas Stars. But even if Parise does get shipped to another team, he isn't guaranteed to sign a contract extension with that team.

Dallas isn't the "sexy" pick for Parise, but they have more cap space than almost any team in the league, and they could offer the same, if not more, than any other team bidding for his services. 

The Stars are definitely not clear favorites to land Parise, but his father played for the Minnesota North Stars, and you can bet that the reason Parise wears number nine in New Jersey, as an American forward, is because of Stars legend, Mike Modano, who is still involved with the team.

Ryan Suter

The Stars cannot afford to sign Suter and Parise to long-term deals, as well as re-sign Jamie Benn in the off-season, so it'll have to be Suter or Parise for Dallas.

Ryan Suter would make a perfect defensive pairing partner with Alex Goligoski, who is also an American that will be competing for a spot on the United States' 2014 Olympic Roster. 

Suter would make an immediate impact in Dallas, and his arrival would help bolster the Stars blue line for many years to come.

Kristian Huselius

If the Stars miss out on Zach Parise, they will desperately need to increase their top six forward talent. Kristian Huselius is a player who can play top minutes for Dallas, and will not cost as much as Zach Parise or Alex Semin. 

Willie Mitchell

The one-time Dallas Star, Willie Mitchell, would immediately come in and make a huge impact on Dallas' penalty kill. If Nicklas Grossman is traded before the deadline, like expected, the Stars will need to shore up their already fledgling special team.

Mitchell would bring a great offensive and defensive presence, and the Stars could pay whatever it took for a two- to three-year deal. 

James Neal

What? The same James Neal that Dallas traded away for Alex Goligoski?

Yes.

Neal is set to be a restricted free agent, and fortunately for the Pittsburgh Penguins, that's the only thing allowing them having a good chance at keeping Neal. 

The Penguins do not have a lot of salary cap space, and if they could get a decent return in draft picks, and a healthy Sidney Crosby, then they would be less hesitant to let James sign an offer sheet with Dallas.

As mentioned earlier, Dallas desperately needs top six talent, and the former Star could bring that right back to Dallas.

This is not very likely, as offer sheets are not that common, but it certainly is a possibility, provided Pittsburgh lack of salary cap space.

Alexander Semin

The million-dollar question is whether Alex Semin even wants to play in the NHL anymore. 

Far too many times in his career, his work rate and effort has been put into question, but when Semin is on his game, watch out.

If the price is not unreasonable, and Joe Nieuwendyk is convinced that Semin has the right mind set, the Stars should try to pull off this monster free-agent signing.

Potential Depth Signings

Forward: Brandon Prust, Erik Christensen, David Moss

Defense: Adrian Aucoin, Scott Hannan

All information regarding potential free agents was found here.