NHL Trade Deadline 2012: Stars Would Be Foolish to Deal Steve Ott

Now is not the time for the Dallas Stars to go ditching the face of their franchise and the heart of their team. 

Dallas is currently in eighth place in the Western Conference, and right in the thick of the playoff race. They aren't in a position where they need to be sellers. They are competitive right now. 

But beyond that, they simply aren't going to get enough value to replace Steve Ott. We'll discuss that in a second, but first the rumors. 

The Rumors

ESPN's Pierre LeBrun gives us a little taste of the interest in Ott. 

"

Steve Ott of the Dallas Stars has lots of teams interested in him, too. It’s certainly not a given that Dallas will move him considering where they sit in the Western Conference standings—in eighth place Friday morning. But they’re listening. Vancouver likes Ott a lot, and Toronto and Philadelphia also likes him.

"

With all the interest, the Stars would get a decent return for Ott, but it wouldn't be worth it. 

Why Dallas Must Hold onto Ott

Ott only has 29 points on the season. He is a talented and versatile player, but production like that isn't going to bring back a king's ransom. And Ott's value with this franchise lies beyond the numbers. 

He is a consistent and solid presence. He is one of the leaders on the team, and the unquestioned leader of the second unit. 

His absence would create a dangerous void for the Stars. 

This wouldn't just be on the ice either. Ott is the one of the faces of this franchise. Fans identify with him, and he helps give the team an identity. 

It is not worth it to trade a player like that for what they would get in return.