Big news out of the office of Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill as he continues his major changes to the Stars organization as the Stars announced a trade that sends fan favorite Loui Eriksson and three Dallas Stars prospects (Reilly Smith, Joe Morrow, and Matt Fraser) to the Boston Bruins for 21 year old center Tyler Seguin, veteran center Rich Peverley and 21 year old defenseman Ryan Button. This trade gives the Stars depth at the center position and the ability to move Jamie Benn back to his natural position of left wing.
Rumors began to heat up that Seguin was available on the trade market during the NHL entry draft, but there was a steep price tag to acquire him. The Stars in need of centers and missing on signing recently bought out Vincent Lecavlier, felt that Seguin was worth this price and saying goodbye to many young prospects close to NHL ready and Loui Eriksson. Seguin is under contract for the next six seasons with a cap hit of 5.75 million dollars, and Rich Peverley is under contract for the next two at 3.25 million.
Seguin was drafted second overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2010 NHL entry draft, Seguin made his NHL debut in the 2010-2011 season playing in 74 games and registering 22 points (11g, 11a) in his rookie campaign. Seguin’s sophmore year he tripled his point total leading the Bruins in scoring for the regular season registering 67 points (29g, 38a) in 81 games earning an All-Star game appearance. This past season for Seguin he registered 32 points (16g, 16a) in 48 games and was a part of the Bruins run to the Stanley Cup finals. Seguin struggled in the playoffs, registering 8 points (1g, 7a) in 22 games. Rich Peverley was an undrafted free agent that came to the NHL through the Nashville Predators with his first NHL season being in 2006-2007, Peverley played in 13 games for the Predators that season registering one assist. Peverley split time between the NHL and AHL the following season suiting up for 33 games with the Nashville Predators registering 10 points (5g, 5a). In the 2008-2009 season Peverley played in Nashville for 27 games, but only registered 9 points (2g, 7a) and was placed on waivers and acquired by the Atlanta Thrashers. In 39 games with the Thrashers, Peverley registered 35 points (13g, 22a) and earned a spot in Atlanta for the next two seasons. Peverley was traded to Boston in February of 2011 to help the Bruins in their playoff run. In 25 postseason games in 2011 Peverley registered 12 points (4g, 8a) and helped the Bruins become Stanley Cup champions. Peverley turns 31 July 8th and is signed through 2014-2015. Ryan Button is a 21 year old prospect defenseman who has not gotten much time for development with the AHL Providence Bruins due to depth of the Bruins prospect pool. He is noted as a skilled offensive defenseman with a Dan Boyle potential along with his size.
Going to the Bruins the Stars say goodbye to Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Joe Morrow, and Matt Fraser. Loui Eriksson was drafted in the second round (33rd overall) by the Dallas Stars in the 2003 entry draft, out of Gothenburg, Sweden. Eriksson played in the Swedish Elite Leagues with Frölunda HC, Eriksson moved to North America in 2005 and played in the AHL with the Iowa Stars eventually making the NHL with the Dallas Stars in the 2006-2007 season. Eriksson has played 501 NHL games, all with Dallas, and has 357 career points (150 g, 207 a) including a 36 goal season in 2008-2009 and an All-Star appearance in 2011. Reilly Smith was one of the Stars rookies highly looked at this past season. Smith, 22, split time between the NHL and AHL, with the Stars Smith played in 37 games registering nine points (3g, 6a) and in the AHL suited up for 45 games registering 35 points (14g, 21a). Smith was drafted by the Stars in the third round of the 2009 NHL draft out of Miami (Ohio). Matt Fraser was an undrafted free agent signed by the Stars in November of 2010 while Fraser was a member of the Kootenay Ice of the WHL. Fraser would then move on to the Texas Stars of the AHL and in his first two professional seasons with the Texas Stars Fraser played in 135 games registering 101 points (70g, 31a). Fraser suited up in 12 games for the Dallas Stars in the shortened 2013 NHL season scoring his first goal against Nashville. Joe Morrow was acquired by the Stars in late March as the main piece to send Brenden Morrow to Pittsburgh.
With this trade the Stars now have their first line center ice man they have been needing since the departures of Mike Modano and Brad Richards, and they can move their franchise player in Jamie Benn back to his natural position of left wing. Dallas also acquires a veteran center in Peverley who knows how to win faceoffs and will be an excellent penalty killer. Do not be suprised if the Stars go out and sign another center for the second line in free agency.
