The Dallas Stars landed skilled winger Mats Zuccarello for their playoff push, while the New York Rangers added more futures to their war chest. We grade both general managers on the swap.
Stars get: F Mats Zuccarello
Rangers get: 2019 second-round pick (becomes a first-rounder if the Stars win two playoff series and Zuccarello plays in 50 percent of Dallas' games) and 2020 third-round pick (becomes a first-rounder if Stars re-sign Zuccarello)
Stars: B+
If the Stars had made this trade about two months ago, perhaps this grade would have been a shade lower. Zuccarello battled through injuries and his numbers were way off his career averages. Then the calendar flipped to 2019, and to quote former Rangers announcer John Davidson, 'Oh baby': Zucc had 23 points in 21 games, showing the kind of offensive spark that made him one of the NHL trade deadline's most intriguing scoring options.
The Stars, suffice it to say, needed scoring options. Their 2.51 goals per game is third worst in the NHL, yet they are the current inhabitant of the first wild-card spot in the West. They're a top-heavy offensive team, with Tyler Seguin (57 points), Alexander Radulov (47 points) and Jamie Benn (41 points) the only Dallas forwards with more than 25 points on the season. Well, until the arrival of Zuccarello, having scored 11 goals with 26 assists for 37 points in 46 games.
What I like about this trade for Dallas on the ice: Zuccarello traditionally has been a player who can create his own offense without needing elite linemates to drive the play. This is good news for the Stars who, as we mentioned, don't have a forward with more than 25 points outside of the big three. Zuccarello is a tenacious player who punches above his weight. He is a three-time winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award (2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17), which is given annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, "goes above and beyond the call of duty."
What I like about this trade for Dallas off the ice: At worst, this is going to cost a first-rounder and a third-rounder, because the chances that the Stars extend a 31-year-old Zuccarello knowing it eventually will cost them a first-round pick are slim. And if it ends up that they do owe the Rangers a first this season, it will be because they made the Western Conference final and Zuccarello helped get them there.
Rangers: C+
Getting a second-rounder and a third-rounder for Zuccarello (and retention of 30 percent of his $4.5 million cap hit) is a low return, with his contract expiring and with the winger not in the Rangers' youth movement plans going forward. This is especially true on the same night when the Ottawa Senators traded Ryan Dzingel for a roster player and a pair of unconditional second-round picks in 2020 and 2021.
Now, in fairness, these picks are conditional. The Rangers will get a first-rounder in 2019 if the Stars make the conference final, which would mean they would have defeated two of the West's elite teams and accomplished something they hadn't done since 2008. The Rangers get a first-rounder in 2020 if the Stars re-sign Zuccarello, which they probably won't do and which they totally won't do if they somehow make the conference final, because trading two first-round picks for Mats Zuccarello would be rejected in an EA Sports' game, let alone in reality.
But hey, sometimes you play the long shots. Do you really think the Rangers thought they would have to give the Tampa Bay Lightning that extra first-rounder for making the conference final in 2014 with Martin St. Louis? Maybe the same good fortune visits the Stars.
For what it's worth: Boy, the Rangers have set themselves up well for the rebuild. Including the conditional second-round pick acquired from the Stars, the Rangers currently have four picks in the first two rounds of the 2019 draft. (The team also has its own first-round pick, its own second-round pick and either Tampa Bay's second-round pick or first-round pick.)