Post by Chunks (Stars GM) on Aug 28, 2011 14:47:57 GMT -5
Dallas, Texas - In a surprising and unexpected move, the Dallas Stars announced that they have traded for right winger Brian Gionta, in exchange for defenseman Nicklas Grossman. For a team that looked as if it was trying for the first overall pick it was definitely a curious move but a move that seemed to be made for young John Tavares. In a statement, Gionta had this to say
"I'm pretty excited to be going to Dallas. I'm not going to lie and say I'm a little sad to be leaving New Jersey but with the moves they have made in the last few days left me in a tough position. I'm looking forward to playing with JT or Brassard centering my line, should be a lot of fun."
With the addition of Gionta, the Stars whole right wing has been completely revamped since GM Chunks took over the team. Since day one of the season, Chunks traded away Setoguchi in a deal that brought in winger Patrick Hornqvist and defenseman Jakub Kindl, and Maxim Afinogenov was brought in off waivers. There may not be any true "star" on this Stars team but this is definitely a better team than the one that started the season with the addition made throughout the season.
Defenseman Nicklas Grossman, who was drafted by the Stars, 56th overall in the 2004 draft, has only played for one team in career. In that time Grossman had developed into a solid top 4 shutdown defenseman. While he was never flashy, Grossman was stable mainstay on the blue line, and provided consistency on the Stars. With this trade there is a hole the top Stars top 4, and rookie Ian Cole is expected to be inserted into the line-up to replace him.
While this trade may affect them getting a lottery pick, there has been a lot of chatter on Dallas's end that there is definitely more to come from this team.
Also announced today, Jakub Kindl has agreed to a 3 year deal totaling 7.05 million. As mentioned before, Kindl was brought in, in the Setoguchi trade and has been a solid player on the Stars blueline. In 33 games with the Stars this season, Kindl has managed 1 goal and 7 assists, while being a respectable -1.