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NHL Free Agency: Grading the Stars’ signings

By C.L. Kohuss

DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 21: Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) celebrates scoring a goal during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks on December 21, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Dallas defeats Chicago 4-0. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 21: Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) celebrates scoring a goal during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks on December 21, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Dallas defeats Chicago 4-0. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 2: Blake Comeau #14 of the Colorado Avalanche handles the puck against Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on April 2, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 2: Blake Comeau #14 of the Colorado Avalanche handles the puck against Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on April 2, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. Blake Comeau, LW

Former team: Colorado Avalanche

Contract: 3 years/$2.4 million per

Kudos to Dallas for signing a Antoine Roussel replacement before the ink on his contract had even dried with the Vancouver Canucks. While Rooster will always be a fan favorite in Texas, the writing was on the wall last season when he was relegated to fourth line minutes under Ken Hitchcock.

Pulling Comeau away from the Colorado Avalanche isn’t the sexiest choice. It was never going to garner accolades from fans or the media. But if you hear Nill remark on the Stars’ scoring depth in interviews, you start to understand why he didn’t go after a James Neal reunion or make a heavy push for van Riemsdyk. You see why he preferred a Comeau at $2.4 million as opposed to anyone else whose cost could be triple that.

Nill believes the talent and depth is already on the roster and in the AHL, so why chew the cap with unnecessary adds? We get where he’s coming from. Whether we agree with that sentiment is completely different but we understand that he believes in who he’s drafted and who he’s signed.

And Comeau isn’t a bad pickup by any means. He is 32, but still he’s coming off a 34-point season, which is double what Roussel put up and would actually have tied for fifth on the team. Being top five at only 34 points isn’t great news for a roster seeking more playmakers beyond the first line, but it’s certainly better than what they’ve received lately. There’s also more to the move than just his points total.

The healthiest aspect about this signing is that Comeau is a good penalty killer. He scored three shorthanded goals last season on a Colorado team that ranked fourth best when down a man, and should help to improve a Stars club that struggled towards the end, eventually finishing 14th overall. He’s also physical, which is never a bad thing, and took only 50 penalty minutes as opposed to the 126 Roussel sat for.

If he comes in and puts up 35 to 40 points with 13 to 15 goals, adds a few shorties and helps restore the Stars’ penalty kill to top-ten status, we’re here for it. Solid addition with minimal upside, but fills a couple of areas of need and the contract won’t leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth.

Grade: B-

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