The Stars are expected to try to extend veteran center Matt Duchene and trade deadline pickup Chris Tanev before they reach unrestricted free agency on July 1, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet said on Monday’s “32 Thoughts” podcast.
Duchene, 33, was an unexpected latecomer to the free agent market last summer after the Predators bought out the final three seasons of his seven-year, $56MM contract. He landed with Dallas on a one-year, $3MM pact, a decision that paid dividends for both teams.
[RELATED: The Matt Duchene Buyout Was A Win-Win]
The 2009 third-overall pick continued his standard production level in a slightly limited role in the Lone Star State, putting up 25 goals and 65 points in 80 games while serving in a complementary role to other Stars talents like Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson. He was limited to two goals and six points in 19 postseason games, but one of his snipes was a double-overtime winner against Colorado that sent Dallas to its second straight Western Conference Final.
Duchene would still have a home in Dallas’ top six next season, especially with the future another pending UFA, 39-year-old Joe Pavelski, hanging in the balance. Pavelski likely wouldn’t sign anywhere else this summer, but whether he returns for a 19th NHL season or heads for retirement is uncertain, Friedman said.
Tanev was also an invaluable piece for the Stars and was relied upon heavily by head coach Peter DeBoer after his acquisition from the Flames at the end of February. The 34-year-old scored seven points and a +13 rating in 38 regular-season and playoff games and averaged over 22 minutes per night in the postseason.
His return would firm up Dallas’ top four on defense next season with Thomas Harley, Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell. Veteran Ryan Suter also remains under contract for one more year at a $3.95MM cap hit, and 2022 first-round pick Lian Bichsel is expected to compete for a spot on the opening night roster after nearly making his NHL debut during the Western Conference Final.
Evolving Hockey’s contract projections yield a three-year, $7MM AAV deal for Duchene and a two-year, $3.9MM AAV deal for Tanev if they were both to remain in Dallas. That won’t be affordable for a team with just under $16MM in projected cap space with only 13 players on the roster, per CapFriendly, especially considering the 22-year-old Harley needs a new deal after his breakout 15-goal, 47-point season playing top-pairing duties alongside Heiskanen. Perennial GM of the year candidate Jim Nill would need to get creative with some cap-clearing trades or convince Duchene to take a significant discount to stay, something that may be feasible considering he’s still being paid $1.56MM by the Preds through 2029.
So they want to re-sign a guy who went pointless in the semifinal?
Stars need more forwards who can win puck battles and score dirty goals. Maverick Bourque can do what Duchene does.
Stars shat the bed in the WCF to an Edmonton team that played lights out. I, amongst most Stars fans, would definitely welcome Duchene back with open arms.
I’m sure Jim Nill already has a plan in place and a spot for Bourque. Just let Nill cook.
Unlike alot of people, I’ve defended Duchene from alot of the criticism he gets, but I think the Stars need to spend their available cap space on some forwards who can win puck battles. Too much of the same type of forwards in the mix right now.
I like the vets we have in place with the young core we have. came up short on an amazing season.
I thought Duchene looked really good. He’s a good fit there. Happy for both parties there. Tanev of course also fit well. He’s needed.
So close…yet so far away.