One free agent every NHL team should sign this offseason
By C.L. Kohuss
Dallas Stars: James Van Riemsdyk, Left Wing
The Dallas Stars need scoring depth in the worst way. Like Calgary, Dallas fell apart at season’s end when it couldn’t find the back of the net. The Stars are likely worse off having been in prime position to make the postseason only to find themselves in the midst of an eight game losing streak that spanned March to April and destroyed all hope of a title run. But they aren’t in an awful position financially and they could go after any number of depth forwards. That is, should they choose to make moves elsewhere on the roster.
With $23 million in cap space, they do have restricted free agents to consider. Guys like Mattias Janmark and defenseman Stephen Johns will get paid and Dallas would be smart to keep them. It also doesn’t need to look for a big name on the blue line. The Stars have excellent talent and potential in the form of young players John Klingberg, Esa Lindell, the aforementioned Johns, last year’s third overall pick Miro Heiskanen and Julius Honka.
Lindell and Honka are restricted free agents in 2020. They have to consider that those two will be paid soon. Superstar Center Tyler Seguin is a free agent next offseason and is going to be in the market for a huge contract. Likely in the $9 million to $10 million range. In fact, it’s probable they start negotiations with him this summer.
One massive hindrance in Dallas signing a big name like James van Riemsdyk is the contract of Jason Spezza. It could be fair to say that former coach Ken Hitchcock’s style of play didn’t mesh at all with Spezza’s talent. Then again, he’s making $7.5 million in the upcoming season after producing only eight goals and 26 points in 78 games.
With the hiring of new head coach Jim Montgomery, what does General Manager Jim Nill do this offseason to better the team? Scenario one would be to keep Spezza and hope he returns to form under a faster style of play. The risk is high as there are questions about whether his age (34) has caught up to him. If it has, Dallas is simply looking at a repeat from this past year, though his contract is up in 2019.
On the other hand, the Stars could buy out his contract and earn themselves an extra $5 million in cap space, half of which they’d be on the books for next season. That move would be ideal, and would allow them to sign a player like Van Riemsdyk who could be looking for somewhere in the same $7 million range, up from his current $4.25 million. He’s also younger at 28 and coming off a career-high 36 goals, and with Montgomery stating that he’s going to want Dallas to crash the net more often, JVR would fit perfectly.
The Stars would merely be swapping an old wheel for a new one while having $2.5 million less in cap space next year. They also won’t be in dire need of money room come 2019, as they’d currently need to sign two restricted free agents and defenseman Marc Methot if they don’t decide to continue going younger on the blue line.